University of Pretoria Museums

COLLABORATION OF PLACES WITH MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES.
 SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY ONLINE (SAHO)
 UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA MUSEUMS (UP MUSEUMS)

"The University of Pretoria Museums manages, conserves, curates, and interprets a
diversity of museum collections and associated archives that are held at various university
locations. Key museum collections are publicly displayed in two historical buildings on the
Hatfield Campus the Old Arts Building (1910) and the Old Merensky Building (1937). These
university museum collections are iconic, since they are unique and valuable, comprising a
vast art collection, ceramics from southern Africa, and signature ceramics from around the
world. Collections include South African sculpture and the iconic Mapungubwe Collection, a
declared national treasure of South Africa.
To honour our 110-year history and 30 years of democracy, recent years have focused
on wider, more inclusive public engagement, digital access and better access for the
disabled to these heritage collections beyond academia. The UP Museums first and foremost
serve as a professional service internally for the University of Pretoria, and for society to
engage with art and to appreciate UP as a steward of some of South Africa’s finest
collections. The museums continue to support academic training, research, and teaching
drives, yet increasingly strive to improve, expand, and contemporise the university museums
as a greater social responsibility. 
The UP Museums have also launched the UP GLAM initiative, which is a first in
South Africa and is collectively working with internal partners such as Alumni Relations and
UP Campus Tours in promoting UP’s Galleries/Gardens, Libraries, Archives, and Museums.
This is futurising the UP Museums and the impact they have on society.
The University of Pretoria Museums offer a variety of guided tours, including an
introductory one-hour museum tour, School tours, Mapungubwe exclusive tours,
conversational tours, sculpture route tours, researchers and visiting scholars tours, bespoke
UP Alumni GLAM tours, corporate tours and UP staff orientation tours. Each tour has a
different focus and duration, and some require a fee. Booking a guided tour will give you a
more comprehensive understanding of the collections, and you can tailor your tour to your
interests. It is essential to make a booking for a tour of the University of Pretoria Museums to

ensure that your visit is well-organized and that a guide is available to show you around. To
make a booking, simply email museums@up.ac.za and provide your preferred date and time
of the tour. You should allow for about two working days to schedule and confirm your tour.
The University of Pretoria Museums are a unique and valuable cultural institution in
South Africa. The museums house some of the University’s most valuable and unique
collections, making it an iconic destination for visitors seeking to immerse themselves in the
rich history and culture of the region. The museums’ focus on wider and more inclusive
public engagement, digital access, and better access for the disabled to these heritage
collections beyond academia makes it an exceptional cultural and educational experience. So,
if you’re looking for a place to appreciate art and history, make sure to add the University of
Pretoria Museums to your itinerary."