The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Zeitz MOCAA was a pivotal moment for Cape Town. The venue’s construction in the V&A Waterfront’s Silo District is lauded as an architectural feat, as well as a game-changer for African visual arts.
Farm Design Events conceptualized and managed the production of this historic opening, which featured high-profile dignitaries.
The launch included the novelty of a ribbon cutting, paired with beautiful medals made by sculptor Conrad Hicks – these collector’s pieces could be taken home by dignitaries as mementos. After the ribbons were cut, we left them up for Heritage weekend.
Our AV design facilitated a ceremony with speeches by art collector Jochen Zeitz, V&A Waterfront Chairman Elias Masilela, designer Thomas Heatherwick, Mayor Patricia De Lille, Western Cape Premier Zille, Executive Director of Zeitz MOCAA Mark Coetzee, and a blessing by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Africa Melane MC’d.
Entertainment included a parade by The Handspring Puppet Company, The South African Youth Choir and drummers. The brief was to be very inclusive with lots of children. So logistics entailed bussing in children from schools across the peninsula. We also fed them and made them Zeitz MOCAA bags and t-shirts.
Being a multi-faceted design studio, our event coordination and design successfully birthed what is set to become one of the world’s most iconic destinations. This process entailed synchronizing dignitaries, a press contingent and groups of learners, plus liaising with the V&A Waterfront, shepherding participants into the gallery, briefing the ushers, making the ribbons and making the meals – basically initiating the concept and managing this prestigious, large-scale production until completion.
This Zeitz MOCAA Ribbon Cutting Cutting Ceremony was the third in a series of launches which included Gucci and Standard Bank events.
