Cape Town: Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Councillor Patricia Van der Ross launched the newly-developed Digital Vault, at City Hall during an event. It is an online tool that will give public access to artworks, artifacts and stories that make up the collection of the city.
The Community Arts and Culture Development Department of the City of Cape Town has developed the digital tool in association with the Information Systems and Technology Department. With this Digital Vault, people around the world can access and explore on interesting artworks and heritage items that make up city’s collection and can be viewed by the public.
Digital Vault is an online tool, that is made to manage art and heritage objects which are owned by the city Cape Town and to make these accessible to everyone. Each item in the vault is listed with high quality images, descriptive information and some of the stories made the items valuable and important.
Artists and the public can apply for the Public Art Permit via this newly built Digital Vault, by making this process much more convenient for both the applicants and the officials of City of Cape Town.
Reportedly, the Digital Vault was launched during the Heritage Month, that strengthened the commitment of Cape Town to preserve the history, diverse cultures and heritage of a world class city.
The Digital Vault has an internal database which will be used by the city officials to catalogue art and heritage items. The application would be useful for recording the essential information for the management and care, such as the location, condition and value of each item.
Rich and varied history of City of Cape Town is reflected in its collections. The collections include paintings, sculptures, memorials, murals, antique furniture, medals, Mayoral Regalia and other such interesting artefacts.
Some of the items on the Digital Vault are in public spaces and are displayed on exhibition. Such as, the Delville Wood Memorial in the Company’s Garden and the Civic Collection Exhibition at the City Hall is a collection of unique, valuable and irreplaceable movable heritage assets (historical, archaeological, scientific and artistic) that reflect the history and growth of Cape Town.
The Attic at the City Hall is still home to the exhibition which is managed by the Arts and Culture Development Branch of Cape Town.
As per the sources, Digital Vault denies the access of other items that are not generally accessible to the public. It is because, they are located in city offices or kept in storage, such as an Irma Stern painting from Zanzibar period.
According to Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis the Digital Vault is an incredible resource. He said that whether you are a student, a school learner, an academic researcher, an art lover or just a regular Capetonian who is curious about the rich history and stories of the city as expressed through art and collected items.
“As far as we know, this is a first such public-facing digital catalogue of art and heritage assets in South Africa and we are very excited for people to start using it,” said Mayor Lewis.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Patricia Van der Ross said that the Digital Vault allows everyone to have access to the art and historical artefacts in the city.
She mentioned that it is very important to them that the collections managed and cared by the City of Cape Town, is accessible, so that people can learn, appreciate and get inspired by them.
Patricia expressed, “We believe in the importance of preserving, investigating and sharing the heritage because it is essential for building identity of people and creating a sense of belonging.”