William Humphreys Art Gallery

If you are looking for what is considered to be one of the finest art museums in South Africa then the William Humphreys Art Gallery in Kimberly is the place to look! Opened in 1952 and named after its principal benefactor, William Benbow Humphreys (1889 - 1965), the William Humphreys Art Gallery, is situated in Kimberley's Civic Centre.

In 1948 William Humphreys, who had spent years collecting art treasures both locally and from around the world, donated to the city a substantial portion of his personal collection of 16th and 17th Century Dutch and Flemish Old Masters, British and French paintings, antique furniture and other objects d'art.

This gift combined with the South African works of art brought together by members of the Art Section of the Kimberley Athenaeum and The Max Greenberg Bequest formed the main concentration of the collection. The Humphreys Loan Collection and Timlin Collection on indefinite loan from De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, enhance the collection. More recently the Meyer Collection of European and Oriental Porcelain and the Lawson Collection of Old Master Drawings and Prints have been acquired.

At this current point in time the Art Gallery concentrates on collecting South African works of art. Apart from its primary function as a museum of art, this Gallery serves the community as an educational and cultural centre. Its activities include temporary exhibitions, art workshops mainly for children, development stimulation classes for pre-school children, craft workshops for unemployed women, lectures, video shows and concerts. We also have a successful outreach programme in which we take graphic exhibitions to the small towns of the Northern Cape province where learners are exposed to the world of art. Guided tours are arranged on request.

The Palette Tearoom is open to the public daily from 10:00 to 16:00 for light meals and refreshments, and the Reference Library remains a valuable resource for school learners and students taking art as a subject.

The William Humphreys Art Gallery is proud to make its different halls available for hiring for functions to the public. They have a variety of options to suit different needs. Their auditorium seats 101 people and is ideal for PowerPoint presentations. They also have smaller venues like the Small Dutch Wing (seating 30 people), large Dutch Wing (50 people), or for a bigger area the temporary wing (150 people). There are various spaces for break-aways as well. Equipment like tables, chairs, screens, a data projector, flip charts, and an overhead projector are also available if necessary. Please note that their in-house caterer must be used for all functions held at the Gallery.

The gallery is open from Monday to Friday: 08:00 to 16:45, Saturdays: 10:00 to 16:45 and Sundays & Public holidays: 09:00 to 12:00. The gallery is closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

For more information please contact: Tel: +27-53-8311724

Address: Civic Centre, Cullinan Crescent, Kimberley, Northern Cape

The William Humphreys Art Gallery is the only national museum in the Northern Cape and its executive authority is the National Department of Arts and Culture. The Gallery provides for the aesthetic and cultural needs of the local community it serves as well as of the people of South Africa. And for this reason it collects, preserves, documents, researches and exhibits works of art which represent the artistic heritage of all South Africans and utilises its assets for the edification, enrichment and enjoyment of the people. This it does by pursuing the highest standards of excellence and without regard to race, class, creed or gender.