The Montagu Arts Association presents a free, self-guided art route through Montagu on Route 62, with an official launch on Friday 6 November.
The Montagu Arts Association (MAA) presents the fourth Montagu Art Meander from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November 2026. Visitors follow a map from one artist’s door to the next, visiting studios, homes and galleries in Montagu.
They can meet the artists where they work and buy directly from them. Entry is free. The weekend opens with a launch function at the MAA Arts Space, 24 Bath Street, Montagu, on Friday 6 November at 17:30.
The launch is open to the public. All venues are open on Saturday 7 November from 10:00 to 17:00 and on Sunday 8 November from 10:00 to 14:00.
This year’s event features 30 artists and five galleries, showcasing a diverse range of artistic mediums, including oil paintings, watercolours, acrylics, sculpture, pottery, ceramics, photography, cyanotype, woodturning and woodworking, and mosaics.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to discover and acquire valuable collectable art works by renowned South African and a few international artists available at selected galleries.
A distinctive feature of the Meander is the opportunity to experience Montagu’s artistic community in its historic surroundings. Many participating artists live and work in restored Cape Dutch, late-Victorian and Karoo-style heritage buildings, offering visitors a glimpse into the village’s architectural character as well as the spaces where its art is created.
Several artists share venues, among them Turning Leaves Craft Studio in Barry Street and the Vineyard Country House in Long Street. Others open their own studios and galleries, such as Red Gate Gallery in Kohler Street and Art Experience at The Station, 10 Kohler Street. In Ashton, Platform 62 at 30 Main Road is on the route.
The MAA Arts Space in Bath Street is the hub, where artists without their own space exhibit together. On the Saturday, weather permitting, the Art Bazaar children’s exhibition takes place at De Bos under the pecan trees with more works on display at the MAA Arts Space in Bath Street.
The printed map will be available at the MAA Arts Space from 1 November, and a digital map will be shared on the Meander’s Facebook and Instagram pages from the same date. Each stop carries a number on the map and matching signage at the door. Artists handle their own sales.
The MAA card machine is available at the Arts Space, while other venues use their own card machines or accept cash or immediate EFT, so visitors are advised to carry some cash.
The Meander aims to bring visitors from outside the district to Montagu, which lies on Route 62, about two hours’ drive from Cape Town. The three-day format allows visitors to stay over
and spend the weekend in town.
“This is the first Meander since the association opened the Arts Space, and it gives the weekend a clear starting point,” says Graeme Hill, chair of the Montagu Arts Association.
“Visitors can begin in Bath Street, collect a map and see a group exhibition before they set off. After that they choose which venues to visit. At most stops the artist will be standing beside the work, ready to talk about how it was made, and that conversation is what brings people back year after year.”
Visitors can also extend their trip to include Barrydale in Bloom, adding another attraction to a weekend exploring the villages and creative offerings of the Route 62 region.
