Oliewenhuis

16/10/2026

🌿 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐮𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 🌳

Did you know that the gardens are an important part of the Oliewenhuis Art Museum experience?

Our historic formal garden features a central pathway, terraced flowerbeds, stone steps and beautiful trees, creating a distinctive setting around the Museum’s Cape Dutch-style building.

Whether you would like to take a leisurely stroll, enjoy the surroundings or simply spend some time outdoors, our gardens offer a welcoming space to appreciate the beauty of this historic setting.

You are also welcome to enjoy a small picnic on the front lawns with family or friends. 🧺

🎟️ Admission is free.

Before planning your picnic, please familiarise yourself with our picnic rules and regulations:
https://nationalmuseum.co.za/visitor-information/

We look forward to welcoming you to Oliewenhuis Art Museum! 💚

16/10/2026

🎨 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 | 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Take a moment to pause, explore and enjoy 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨, an exhibition showcasing a selection of artworks from the Oliewenhuis Art Museum Permanent Collection.

Curated to create a shared and relaxing visual experience, the exhibition brings together a diverse range of artistic styles and media, offering visitors an opportunity to appreciate South African art at their own pace.

📍 Permanent Collection Gallery, First Floor, Main Building, Oliewenhuis Art Museum
📅 On view until 17 January 2027
🎟️ Admission is free.

🚗 Parking: R10 per vehicle, cash only.

Main gate closes to new arrivals at 16:30 on weekdays and 15:30 on weekends and public holidays. Visitors already inside are welcome to enjoy the museum until closing time.

We invite you to visit and experience 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 for yourself.

15/10/2026

❤️ 𝑨 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝒆𝒅 | An Exhibition at Oliewenhuis Art Museum

What can a touch of colour reveal about women's lives, histories and experiences?

𝑨 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝒆𝒅, presented by Oliewenhuis Art Museum and the National Museum, brings together artworks and historical photographs to explore the resilience, courage and experiences of women across generations.

Presented predominantly in black and white, the exhibition uses touches of red to evoke love, courage, dignity and determination, while also confronting loss, violence and the lasting effects of gender-based violence.

As we reflect on the legacy of the historic Women's March of 9 August 1956, this exhibition honours the women who came before us, those shaping our communities today and those working towards a more just future.

📍 Venue: First Floor, Main Building, Oliewenhuis Art Museum, 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein
📅 On view until: 10 January 2027
🎟️ Admission: Free

Visit 𝑨 𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝒆𝒅 and experience this thought-provoking exhibition for yourself.

15/10/2026

🌿 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦! 🌿

Oliewenhuis Art Museum is pleased to welcome Verushiano van Wyk and Gareth Meintjies, who have joined our team on contract as General Assistants and Gardeners through the WBE Out of School Youth Internship programme.

Our garden is an important part of the Oliewenhuis experience. With its historic formal layout, terraced flowerbeds, stone steps and beautiful trees, it is a special feature of the Museum and a much-loved attraction in Bloemfontein.

We look forward to having Verushiano and Gareth contribute to the care and maintenance of these gardens, helping to preserve this special space for our visitors to enjoy.

Please join us in welcoming them to Oliewenhuis Art Museum! 🌱💚

15/10/2026

🎨 𝑺𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 | Exhibition Opening 🎨

On Thursday, 17 September 2026, Oliewenhuis Art Museum officially opened 𝑺𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆, an upbeat exhibition of contemporary art curated from the ArtbankSA Collection by Candice Thikeson, Project Manager of ArtbankSA. The exhibition was opened by Ester Le Roux, Curator of Oliewenhuis Art Museum.

Inspired by cultural festivities, 𝑺𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 brings together a selection of contemporary artworks celebrating the creativity and diversity of South African artists.

📍 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝑺𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻!

The exhibition is on view in the 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆 at 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗻𝗵𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 until 11 April 2027. We invite you to visit, explore the works on display and discover the artists represented in this collection.

🖼️ 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝘁?

All artworks on display are available for sale or lease through the ArtbankSA Contemporary Collection. ArtbankSA is a national programme of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, hosted by the National Museum Bloemfontein, that supports South African artists by purchasing and making artworks available for sale or lease.

For enquiries about acquiring or leasing artworks, please contact:

📧 Candice Thikeson: [email protected]
📧 Innocent Moche: [email protected]

Support South African contemporary artists by bringing exceptional works into your home, office or collection.

We look forward to welcoming you to 𝑺𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 at Oliewenhuis Art Museum! ✨

12/10/2026

📢 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘: 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗠 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗘

Kindly note that Oliewenhuis Art Museum will be 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗗 on 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟰 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, on account of the 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

Please take note of this date when planning your visit.

Thank you for your understanding.

08/10/2026

📢 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: Adjusted Gate Closure Times at Oliewenhuis Art Museum

Due to high volumes of traffic and congestion caused by Matric farewell and school dance photoshoots taking place on the museum grounds — often exceeding our usual visitor numbers — we kindly inform parents and visitors that the museum gates will now close earlier on both weekdays and weekends.

This adjustment is necessary to ensure parking fees are paid on time, to allow staff to close the museum and museum grounds promptly, and to help maintain safety and order during these particularly busy periods.

🗓️ 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆:
🔹 No visitors will be allowed entrance at the front gate after 16:00 (instead of 16:30). All visitors to leave the premises by 17:00.

🚨 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲: Our staff are here to assist and ensure a positive experience for everyone. 𝗪𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 — including those coming for photoshoots — 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱.

A R10 parking fee is charged (cash only), while entrance to the museum remains free of charge.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this particularly busy season and we thank you for supporting smooth and safe operations for everyone on the premises.

📞 For further enquiries, please contact us at 078 968 4300 or email [email protected] / [email protected].

06/10/2026