São Paulo Botanical Garden celebrates 98 years with photographic exhibitions and free workshops

Artscape will conclude the celebration of its 55th anniversary with a landmark black-tie and ball-gown gala concert on Sunday, November 8th, at 5:00 PM. This event signifies the theatre's historical transition from a space shaped by division to a vibrant national cultural institution declaring itself 'A Place for All.'

This significant milestone reflects South Africa's broader shift from exclusion towards democracy, diversity, and social cohesion. Today, Artscape functions as a people's theatre, presenting high-caliber productions for a diverse audience almost daily while preserving the memory of the past and shaping the country's creative future.

Artscape CEO Marlene Le Roux noted that over 55 years, the institution has become home to the full spectrum of South African art, culture, and genres forged by a shared history. She emphasized that the performing arts possess immense power to unite people, as song asks no questions about birthplace, and a dancer's movement requires no translation. In the theatre, strangers sit together, breathe, laugh, and fall silent together, and within a few hours, the distance between them disappears, thereby creating cohesion through shared experience.

Featuring First-Rate Stars

The evening, organized by Sandra Prinsloo, Dennis Newman, and Thoko Ntsinga, will present an extensive program featuring South African icons, contemporary favorites, and rising talents in singing, dancing, jazz, and poetry.

Among the esteemed legends and associated companies are Koeny de Villiers, Dizzy Platjack, Amanda Stride, Thembi Mtshali-Jones, Vicky Samson, Jan Smith, Kus Kombuis, and associated Artscape companies. Among the contemporary scene favorites and other artists are Jody Jantjes, Mandisi Dyantjes, Lukman and Emma Adams, Alistair Isobell, Jody Abraham, Robin Peters, Noor Lehmann, and poet Sifokazi Jonas. Vocalists and divas will include Linnell Kennedy, Zanne De Lange, Fancy Galada, and Karin Kortge.

Cape Jazz Masters:

This segment will feature George Werner, Amanda Tiffin, Don Vino Prin, Wesley Rustin, and other musicians. Choirs include the South African Youth Choir, Cape Town Choristers, Yellowwood Park Children's Choir, and Cape Malay Choir. Dance and cultural ensembles will feature dancers Riel from Bethgesfontein, the Taare Indian Dance troupe, Tandi Swartbuy's 'Women Unite', the Cape Town's Most Wanted hip-hop dance group, and the ABFAB Drag ensemble.

The gala concert is directed and curated by Basil Apollos and Marlene Le Roux. Choreography is by Nkosinathi Sangweni, musical direction is led by Trevino Ayax, and the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra is conducted by Brandon Phillips.

Artscape Council Chairman Zak Gordon described the performance as a fitting reflection of what a national cultural institution can be when it is open, trusted, and well-supported. He noted that 'A Place for All' unites legends and new voices, choirs and orchestras, jazz, dance, and poetry in a single celebration of the diversity that defines this institution.

Country and Provincial Leaders Welcome Achievement

Western Cape Premier Alan Windu highly praised the theatre's enduring role in talent development, creative education, and economic contribution. According to him, for 55 remarkable years, Artscape has served as a living center of Cape Town's and the Western Cape's heritage, diversity, and creativity. He added that the theatre has showcased world productions and provided a vital platform for emerging artists and new voices, noting the theatre's contribution to strengthening the cultural landscape and creative economy.

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gethon Mackenzie emphasized the transformation of the building since its inception. He stated that fifty-five years ago, the building was accessible only to a fraction of South Africans, whereas today Artscape serves as proof that stages, music, and stories belong to everyone. Mackenzie stressed that 'A Place for All' is not just a slogan but a promise of the nation that Artscape fulfills with every curtain rise, uniting many voices that enrich cultural life.

The 55th anniversary achievement was supported by key partners and sponsors, including the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Suidoosterfees, ATKV, Dagbreek Trust, and Associated Arts Companies.

Event details: The Artscape 55 Gala Concert will take place on Sunday, November 8th, at 5:00 PM. Dress code is black-tie and ball-gown. Tickets are available online via Webtickets.

The Coffee Valley and the hilly region will host the first Gardens Circuit Show, named 'Entre Vales,' starting Saturday, October 31st, and the event will run until November 21st. This show will offer public visits to private gardens and selected historical areas in locations such as Engenheiro Paulo de Frontin (RJ), Vassouras (RJ), and Vale das Videiras (Petrópolis).

The circuit's proposal consists of 'talk-class' meetings, where topics such as botany, ecological methods, soil management, and floral gastronomy will be discussed. The project emphasizes spaces created and maintained by women, establishing a link between the Atlantic Forest biome and various cultural traditions. This initiative coincides with the Atlantic Flower Spring Festival.

Over four weekends, participants can explore properties ranging from 19th-century old farms to sites featuring contemporary art interventions and syntropic agriculture practices. At each stop, the hosts, landscape architects, and managers will guide the public through the designated routes.

Check out the full schedule

On the first weekend, October 31st, there will be talk-classes at Casa Ecotudo and Viveiro Muda Tudo (Vale das Videiras) on rooftop gardens, ecological techniques, and native plants, featuring environmentalist Bárbara Pellegrini and a tribute to landscape architect Terezinha Cunha. At 3 PM, at Fazenda das Palmas (Engenheiro Paulo de Frontin), environmentalist Luiza Braga will lead a meeting on organic gardens, syntropic agriculture, and country art.

On Sunday, November 1st, Uaná Etê Ecological Garden (Engenheiro Paulo de Frontin) will host a tour to the Music Labyrinth, accompanied by musician Cristina Braga and landscape architect Maritza de Orleans e Bragança.

The second weekend brings two events on November 7th. At Fazenda Cachoeira Grande (Vassouras), a historic and high-altitude tropical garden will be presented, addressing seasonality and sculptural trees near the lake, with Núbia Cafarelli. Later, at Fazenda Floresta (Vassouras), rural producer Yolanda Capute will discuss garden management on producing properties, fertilization, and drought strategies.

In the third weekend, on November 14th, Vale Zirá e Flor Gourmet (Vassouras) will host a meeting focused on solar orientation, well-being, and floral gastronomy, including a themed lunch and music by Cláudio Nucci, led by Ana Lúcia Furtado. The following Sunday, November 15th, Fazenda São Pedro da Juréa (Vale das Videiras) will present work on forest recovery of slopes and riparian forests using native Atlantic Forest species, with urban planner Teresa Serra.

Finally, on the fourth weekend, November 20th (holiday), Sítio Santa Maria – Casa de Campo Orleans e Bragança (Vassouras) will have its unprecedented opening of the sculpture garden, with Maritza de Orleans e Bragança discussing plant adaptation to natural resources and focal points. The circuit concludes on November 21st (Saturday), when Fazenda Velha de Santa Rita (Vassouras) will display Land Art installations integrating stones, water, and botany, functioning as an open-air gallery, with landscape architect Beatriz Calmon.

Campo Grande is celebrating International Animation Day, scheduled for October 28th, by offering free screenings of both national and international short films. The city is among the Brazilian municipalities that will host the national shorts showcase.

The program is distributed across three distinct locations: the Nhanhá Humanitarian Center, Coletivo Arte em Movimento, and the Adventor Divino de Almeida State School. Activities will take place between Friday, the 23rd, and Wednesday, the 28th.

The screenings feature animations aimed at children, as well as films for older age groups. The children's content focuses on themes such as affection, dreams, generosity, and friendship. The national and international showcases address social issues, memories, human relationships, and environmental themes.

Details of the International Animation Day Program

The International Animation Day (DIA) short film showcase was conceived with the goal of promoting animation films and increasing public access to this type of audiovisual production. In Brazil, the event promotes screenings in cities across all regions of the country, and admission is free.

The main screening takes place simultaneously in various locations on October 28th. In 2026, the event will reach its 23rd edition, having started in 2004 at Sesc Vila Mariana, in São Paulo. The choice of this date commemorates the first public projection of animated images, held on October 28, 1892, by the Frenchman Charles-Émile Reynaud, at the Grévin Museum in Paris.

Check the Program in Campo Grande

Children's Screenings

Among the titles to be shown to the young audience is 'Yellow Cow'. The children's sessions are rated free and present narratives about discovery, coexistence, dreams, and friendship. The children's program includes shorts such as:

• Hope: about a 12-year-old Black girl who aspires to be a professional soccer player.
• The Lion and the Mouse: which illustrates kindness and shows how smaller individuals can help others.
• Yellow Cow: focused on friends facing a storm.
• The Magic Garden: dealing with the theme of generosity.
• Zezéu's Hat: created by children using materials found at school and in their yards.
• Tetê's Journey: addressing the weaning process in a playful way for children.

These stories explore various subjects, such as the pursuit of an ideal, the importance of solidarity, connection with nature, creativity, and the transformations inherent in childhood. The films will be projected at the following locations:

• Nhanhá Humanitarian Center: Friday (23rd), at 6 PM, at Rua do Comércio, 149, Jardim Nhanhá.
• Coletivo Arte em Movimento: Saturday (24th), at 6 PM, at Rua João Francisco Damasceno, 1.429.

National and International Showcase

Films produced throughout Brazil and on the world stage will also be screened. This session brings together both Brazilian and foreign shorts. The international showcase has an age rating of 12 years, while the national one is not recommended for those under 14. The screening location is:

• Wednesday (28th), at 7 PM, at the Adventor Divino de Almeida State School, located at Praça Epaminondas Alves Pereira, Avenida Júlio de Castilho, 841, Vila Alba.

Among the international titles, the following stand out:

• Eating Time (Estonia, 2025): narrates a woman who, after suffering an explosion, arrives at a shoemaker's workshop and begins a fantastic journey through her own memories, literally needing to 'eat time' to progress.
• Carmela (Spain, 2025): portrays a woman who joins the militias after the Spanish Civil War, fighting against fascism and defending the freedoms gained during the Second Republic.
• Pintango (Argentina, 2021): presents Pacho and Mimi, characters living in an animation model, who seek to overcome financial problems by putting on a tango show to sell their paintings.
• Loop (Argentina/Spain, 2022): exposes a society where every individual incessantly repeats the same action, investigating the pattern of repetition in daily routine.

The national films include:

• The Heart of the Boiúna (Pará, 2026): tells the story of a colossal serpent from the Amazonian rivers seen through the eyes of Maria Estrela, an 8-year-old girl. With the help of her parents, she recounts the legend and stimulates reflection on environmental awareness.
• I See You There (Minas Gerais, 2026): follows Violeta and Rosa as they prepare for an astral journey under the full moon.
• Between Leaves and Winds (Bahia, 2026): narrates the story of Jahi, who isolates himself in his room, and his cat, Ela, who crosses leaves, winds, and memories to find him again. The animation addresses themes such as affection, care, and permanence.
• Mother of the Morning (Rio Grande do Sul, 2025): shows a hungry creature searching for food at night, maintaining a continuous cycle.
• Dried and Smoked Fish (Santa Catarina, 2026): describes the tradition of the tuna haul on São Francisco do Sul island and the preparation of cambira, a typical coastal dish, based on the memories of fisherwoman Sirlene.
• How a River is Born (Bahia, 2025): follows Ayla on a journey through a mountainous landscape, rich in vegetation and a river, a moment when she explores the environment and discovers aspects of herself.
• Pariah (São Paulo, 2023): features a young woman surrounded by aggressive people who establishes a connection with a child while confronting a man, fighting for her own survival and the right to exist.