The Century City Conference Centre has adorned its walls with the works of local artists and changed some of its menus to feature uniquely Cape Town cuisine that gives international visitors a truly South African experience.
It is a new initiative that is a breath of fresh air, writes Gasant Abarder in a new #SliceOfGasant column.
I’ve travelled quite a bit over my career as a journalist and each time I find myself in a city abroad, I’m struck by how the radio stations play predominantly music produced by locals. When back home, most of the radio stations predominantly play hits from the US and the UK and very little local stuff.
I’ve also always felt that Cape Town – beyond its natural beauty – tries too hard to emulate a European city.
I’m not alone. The innovative Gary Koetser, the CEO of the Century City Conference Centre and Hotels, has now made telling interventions to transform his premier destination into a spot that looks, sounds and tastes like an African venue.
Last week, he and his team launched the venue’s new campaign called Canvas and Community – a celebration of art and creativity. It was an evening to remember, fronted by the works of incredible local artists, local fashion, a new canape menu featuring elements from local cuisine, Jimmy Nevis performing his hit song about Athlone, ‘7764’, and electric violin band The Muses playing Mandoza’s Nkalakatha.
‘We were hosting international clients for site inspections and they would come into the conference centre saying, “Wow, this could be anywhere in the world. What a beautiful venue.” While we used to love that when we opened about a decade ago and get quite excited about that and very proud, over the last year that’s not what we wanted to hear,’ said Koetser.
‘We didn’t want to be like every conference centre around the world. We wanted to celebrate what we have here in South Africa and Cape Town. People are travelling a long way from across the world to come to South Africa and to come to Cape Town. The last thing we wanted was to give them a venue that could be anywhere in the world.’
Koetser partnered with The Artists Gallery, which prides itself on work mainly of local artists, to procure eye-catching and brilliant art from the local community that now has a permanent home at the conference centre. He told an audience at the launch it was a deliberate move to enhance the experience of the 10 000 or so guests the conference centre hosts each month.
‘Why not give these local artists the platform where their art can be seen by local and international guests? Hopefully, they will generate sales where delegates can purchase art – not the ones on the walls because we’ve become emotionally attached to it – but new art and send it back home?,’ said Koetser.
But with Koetser, it’s always go big or go home. During COVID, while every other destination was downscaling, he launched an expansion called Bridgewater that almost doubled his hotel capacity and gave local entrepreneurs the space to trade.
Oh, and those canapes: bobotie-filled spring rolls, chicken biryani and wait for it … mini masala steak gatsbys. For dessert, rich malva pudding with custard.
The artists whose diverse works enjoy pride of place at the conference centre are Fadiel Hermans, Jaret Loggenberg, Moeketsi Moahloli, Sarah Danes Jarrett, Justice Mathonsi Philip Mabote and Andrew Ntshabele. The work ranges from powerful portrayals of the female form to mixed media pieces and linocuts.
My personal favourite is the street-art-infused collection of Fadiel Hermans. The pieces by the artist from Westridge, Mitchells Plain, are hard to ignore and they pop out, demanding your attention.
‘I try to do work that conveys something or at least asks a question,’ he said of his work. ‘I admire Gary for taking this initiative because we need local people to buy into the excellence in our communities.’
Koetser has made a bold start. I challenge the heads of other conference centres, hotels, restaurants, and radio stations to lose the Eurocentric aesthetic and help make Cape Town look, sound and taste like a truly African city.
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Picture: Gasant Abarder
