The Financial Times was poking around Johannesburg in South Africa when they uncovered this:
The so-called “Parks” – the areas of Parkhurst, Parkview, Parkwood and particularly Parktown North – form an engaging, arts-rich enclave amid the city’s suburban-style sprawl. This series of leafy neighbourhoods is home to the most important assemblage of traditional and contemporary art galleries in the entire country, if not all of Africa.
Now within walking distance of the new Gautrain station at Rosebank and accented by stylish, independent boutiques and many of the city’s cosiest cafés and restaurants, the “Parks” make an ideal urban pit-stop whether you are staying for a week or a day.
“Much like in Chelsea in New York, the Parks have become a real hub for Johannesburg’s arts and culture, just on a smaller scale,” says Liza Essers, director and owner of the Goodman Gallery, the city’s leading contemporary art dealer. “The area used to be considered the city’s periphery, but it has become a true neighbourhood that’s safe and accessible.”
Art District: Park Life (Financial Times)
