Editing Pretoria (section)

===Performing arts and galleries===

Pretoria is home to an extensive portfolio of public art. A diverse and evolving city, Pretoria boasts a vibrant art scene and a variety of works that range from sculptures to murals to pieces by internationally and locally renowned artists. The [[Pretoria Art Museum]] is home to a vast collection of local artworks. After a bequest of 17th century Dutch artworks by Lady Michaelis in 1932 the art collection of Pretoria City Council expanded quickly to include South African works by Henk [[Pierneef]], [[Pieter Wenning]], [[Frans Oerder]], [[Anton van Wouw]] and [[Irma Stern]].<ref name="gautengcc.co.za">{{cite web |url=http://www.gautengcc.co.za/pretoria-art-museum.htm |title=Pretoria Art Museum – Pretoria Attractions – Gauteng Conference Centre Midrand |access-date=28 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929053427/http://www.gautengcc.co.za/pretoria-art-museum.htm |archive-date=29 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> And according to the museum: "As South African museums in Cape Town and Johannesburg already had good collections of 17th, 18th and 19th century European art, it was decided to focus on compiling a representative collection of South African art" making it somewhat unusual compared to its contemporaries.<ref name="gautengcc.co.za"/>
[[File:South African State Theatre12.jpg|thumb|[[South African State Theatre]]]]
Pretoria houses several performing arts venues including:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://showme.co.za/pretoria/events-entertainment/theatres-in-pretoria/ |title=Theatres in Pretoria |access-date=5 October 2015 |archive-date=6 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006053410/http://showme.co.za/pretoria/events-entertainment/theatres-in-pretoria/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
the [[State Theatre, South Africa|South African State Theatre]] which houses the arts of [[Opera]], [[musical theatre|musicals]], [[play (theatre)|plays]] and comedic performances.

A 9 metre tall statue of former president [[Nelson Mandela]] was unveiled in front of the [[Union Buildings]] on 16 December 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mandela.southafrica.net/map/view/the-nelson-mandela-statue-at-the-union-buildings |title=Madiba's Journey – South African Tourism |access-date=28 September 2015 |archive-date=29 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929051459/http://mandela.southafrica.net/map/view/the-nelson-mandela-statue-at-the-union-buildings |url-status=live}}</ref> Since Nelson Mandela's inauguration as South Africa's first majority elected president the Union Buildings have come to represent the new 'Rainbow Nation'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-17/world27s-largest-statue-of-nelson-mandela-unveiled-in-pretoria/5160450 |title=World's largest statue of Mandela unveiled |website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=28 September 2015 |archive-date=31 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031172428/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-17/world27s-largest-statue-of-nelson-mandela-unveiled-in-pretoria/5160450 |url-status=live}}</ref> Public art in Pretoria has flourished since the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] with many areas receiving new public artworks.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tshwane.gov.za/Pages/default.aspx |title=Home |access-date=28 September 2015 |archive-date=12 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412092003/http://www.tshwane.gov.za/Pages/default.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref>