Durbanville Cultural Society

The Durbanville Cultural Society is a non-profit organisation and the Lessee of the Rust-en-Vrede property.

The Society was established in 1981 to assist the then Durbanville Municipality in the promotion of cultural activities. It was chaired by a local artist, Con Purchase, since passed away, who was instrumental in obtaining the building as an Arts and Cultural Centre. The centre was officially opened on 14 February 1984 by die Hon. E. Louw (Administrator of the Cape) with several hundred people attending. From that time onwards, many people from this community have actively been involved by serving on the various committees or as members of the Durbanville Cultural Society.

The Society has since been operational – as custodians of the first Clay Museum in South Africa - in promoting and supporting young and emerging artists by exhibiting their work - in offering art classes and workshops to promote cultural activity in the community - in organizing monthly craft markets where individuals can sell their works and thereby facilitating job creation.

The Durbanville Cultural Society, under the chairmanship of Susan Liegner, employs a curator, Monica Ross and assistant Hamlin Jansen van Vuuren, to manage the daily affairs of the centre