A Home for Bold Expression
The BAT Centre is a community arts development and cultural entertainment centre located within the Small Craft Harbour off Durban’s Victoria Embankment. It consists of a variety of facilities ranging from a number of intimate art galleries, to a small conference centre, a performance hall, dance studio, art and music studios, a restaurant, bar and outside deck, and a number of shops selling local contemporary and traditional art, mostly from KwaZulu-Natal.
Vision
The BAT Centre Trust is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to promotion of the music, visual arts, dance, craft and literature of KwaZulu-Natal. In so doing, the BAT Centre aims to generate work for artists, to build new markets for the arts.
Mission
To celebrate the arts and culture of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa by promoting local talent and skills to celebrate our unique cultures and encouraging cross-fertilization.
To create jobs for the artists by sourcing talent, imparting skills and developing markets.
To act as a community arts centre for the city of Durban.
To become a resource to outlaying arts and cultural centres and creative people.
Artist Development
The BAT Centre is home to the development of artists on platforms of both music and visual arts that help artists to further studies at a tertiary institution or start their own businesses.
Outreach
The BAT Centre formulates outreach projects that attempt to reach communities through its artists in residency programme to assist with the improvement of skills, creative learning and community development.
Training
The BAT Centre coordinates workshops and seminars to help individuals build and strengthen character, impart knowledge as well as to help develop their individuality within the industry.