Joan Legalamitlwa (Tsogo 1997)

Boingotlo Joan Legalamitlwa (Tsogo 1997)

Alumni Profile of Boingotlo Joan Legalamitlwa

Started at Tsogo High School in 1992 and matriculated in 1997. Earlier I attended Primary School at D P Kgotleng, in  Unit 2,  Mmabatho. I later continued to University of  Cape Town

Currently, I work as a curator in a cape town based art gallery – Michael Stevenson. The gallery has a team of 5 curators who manage the gallery artists as well as their exhibitions at the gallery and elsewhere. Gallery artists include South African greats such as Pieter Hugo, Nicholas Hlobo, Zanele Muholi, Penny Siopis, Berni Searle and Nandipha Mntambo among others. The gallery functions as the artists support base – from the conception of artworks, through the production and beyond the exhibition phase. Most importantly, we help sell their products to reputable collectors and institutions as well as insure that their art is marketed in art circles around the world.

I would like to be South Africa’s minister of arts and culture in a few years time and working in such a space is perfect for my vision. I have always been a lover of the arts, and my mission is to serve such talent in any way possible.

I am inspired by everything about art, be it fine arts, theatre, poetry, music or film. I try to surround myself with as many artists from all genres as much as possible. Life is never dull with such people in one’s life – and there is always something new to learn. One must always strive to acquire knowledge, whether through experience, reading, googling information – the more open-minded one is, the more knowledgeable they become. You can never know too much! I can tell you that for free!

Message to Alumni

Strive for the simple things in life and invest in the arts – buy South African art – it will do your children’s future a lot of good 🙂

Message to current Students

Do not be afraid to take risks while you are young! Learn not judge others but rather draw what you can from those that are different to you. Respect your peers and always keep an open mind.

Things I fondly miss from my Tsogo Days: Si-speech 🙂 i loved public speaking, especially in Afrikaans !, Wonderful teachers – some more hilarious than others but all very wonderful nevertheless!, Time spent with classmates – too many funny moments!.

I received a Mellon foundation scholarship for a semester study abroad Programme at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA in 2001. I am the youngest and only female film festival director in South Africa, as director of the Encounters Documentary Festival at age 26 in 2006. I have served on various film festival juries and selection committees locally and abroad. I have Managed/curated 5 film festivals in South Africa between 2004 – 2009

Connect with me

– Boingotlo Joan Legalamitlwa on Facebook http://on.fb.me/Pql5gb

More Alumni Profiles

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