About

Who we are

The Inside Out Centre for the Arts is a not-for-profit foundation, established by artist-photographer Roger Ballen to serve a dual purpose. First, the Inside Out Centre acts as an art exhibition space, presenting shows that explore issues related to the African continent from a distinctively aesthetic and psychological perspective. Second, the Inside Out Centre facilitates a dynamic programme of educational talks, panel discussions, masterclasses and presentations that reflect on the current exhibition and on topics relevant to the arts. We will also have special programmes for high school groups based on the current exhibition. These include programmes for Visual and Dramatic Arts, Language Studies, Social Sciences and project-based learning. 

Our hope is that the Inside Out Centre will become a significant cultural landmark in Johannesburg.  Together with the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Museum and the Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF), it forms part of a trio of cultural centres in the central suburb of Forest Town.

Make your bookings for a guided tour of the Inside Out Centre and its current show, End of the Game. Individuals and school groups welcome! 

A name at the Centre of it all

The name ‘Inside Out’ reflects the idea that the Centre’s exhibitions will encourage introspection, and the design of the building is inspired by the same concept. Raw concrete is used on the interior and exterior surfaces of this mysterious and inviting building, whose concealed entrance opens into a breathtaking, double-volume, naturally lit space.

“I sometimes think that the building looks like it has been turned ‘inside out’,” comments Ballen, who worked closely with local architect Joe van Rooyen of JVR Architects to create a landmark building. Read more about our building. 

How we came about

The Inside Out Centre for the Arts has been years in the making. The Roger Ballen Foundation, which was dedicated to the advancement of education in photography in South Africa, was established by the artist in 2008. The Foundation sponsored exhibitions in Johannesburg of notable international artists and brought guest lecturers to students in the city. After some time, Ballen felt that the Foundation, which has since been renamed the Inside Out Trust Foundation, needed a home so that shows and programmes could run on an ongoing basis. In January 2018, he finally found a property in an ideal location to bring his project to fruition. The Inside Out Centre was built on this piece of land, and Ballen moved into the building in August 2020.

“In the years to come,” explains Ballen, “the Inside Out Centre will feature themes related to Africa with global application. There is a wealth of highly respected international and local artists — working in photography, installation, sculpture, drawing, painting and film — whose work centres on African themes. Over time, we will develop inspiring programmes and present thought-provoking exhibitions.” 

Read this interview with Roger Ballen to learn more about how the Inside Out Centre was conceptualised.

The exhibitions we present

The Inside Out Centre aims to exhibit art that relates to issues relevant to the African continent. Our guiding criteria are:

1. The topic should directly or indirectly have a relationship to African culture, history, or contemporary issues of the continent.
2. Exhibitions should link the documentary with the aesthetic, fact with fiction, and be educational and imaginary at the same time.
3. The work should have a psychological impact that extends beyond what is merely ‘contemporary’.
4. There should be a link between what is exhibited and the aesthetic of Roger Ballen and the Ballenesque. This includes work related to the artistic movements of Surrealism, Absurdism, art brut and/or outsider art.

If you would like to collaborate with us on an exhibition that meets these criteria, you are welcome to contact us.

Partnerships

The Inside Out Centre for the Arts works closely with the Eiger Foundation in Geneva, Switzerland, to advance and develop contemporary photography and art that relates to the African continent.

The Eiger Foundation recently hosted its first annual African Photobook of the Year Award. This prize is given to the best photographic publication by a photographer from or working in Africa. 

View our virtual bookshelf for details on the 17 shortlisted publications, and read more about the winning photobooks — The African Lookbook by Catherine McKinley, A City on a Hill by Potšišo Phasa, Nguecokh by Tom Huber, and Nsenene by Michele Siblioni. Interviews with the winners can be found on our Learn page. 

Roger the Rat is our resident rodent. One night, he broke into the Inside Out Centre for the Arts and discovered a place beyond his wildest imagination. Transfixed by this world of comedy, absurdity and mystery, Roger the Rat could not resist staying, and he is now a permanent fixture. Along with Phantom, he watches over the Inside Out Centre — only they know what goes on here at night…