We visited the Athenaeum Building in early December 2012, as part of the Route 67 Art Works walk with Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism and Dorelle Sapere from Mandela Bay Development Agency. The Mandela Bay Development Agency is spending over R3 million on renovations to the Athenaeum Building in Belmont Terrace, converting it to its former glory and hoping to develop it as an arts and crafts hub that will be used 7 days a week, attracting residents and tourists to it and to the surrounding areas. Like each of the Agency’s projects, it’s also part of the inner city upgrading that covers Govan Mbeki Avenue, Parliament Street, the redevelopment of the Donkin, etc. and all is aimed at drawing residents and tourists back into the heart of the city. The idea of the arts and crafts hub is that there could be drama and theatre on the go there as well as exhibitions of art works. Workshops are to be held so that visitors can watch and see the operating side of art development. Plans for the redevelopment of the Athenaeum also include the introduction of a restaurant that would serve food all day as well as before and after theatre shows staged in The Little Theatre. The Athenaeum will become the focal point of the Arts once it is finished, and, with the partnership of the Arts Journey, National Arts Festival and Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, it will become a ‘Creative Collective’ of Nelson Mandela Bay. Manager: Asanda Mlata Tel: 041 585 1041 E-mail: manager@theathenaeum.co.za Athenaeum Council Members (2011 to 2012): President: Greg Everard Administration coordinators: Nelson Mandela Bay City Amy Shelver: +27 (0)71 880 4831 Email: amy@numbcity.co.za Previous posts of ours on Route 67: https://dempseys.co.za/gh/fischers-art-gallery-a-stop-along-route-67-port-elizabeth/ https://dempseys.co.za/gh/67-beaded-quotes-of-nelson-mandela/ https://dempseys.co.za/gh/wayfinding-markers-along-route-67-in-port-elizabeth/ https://dempseys.co.za/gh/images-of-the-interesting-route-67-art-works-in-pe-dec-2012/ 
