Humanities Hubs are centres of knowledge with a focus on heritage. They offer ways to use existing resources to engage communities in creating or reproducing new ways of knowing. Humanities Hubs is primarily a research-based programme; it aims to catalyse and open new avenues for scholarship in the humanities and social sciences and to assist in and promote the HSS more generally, linking with the broader public, outside of universities. Liliesleaf is the Institute’s flagship Humanities Hub, funding having been awarded to the Liliesleaf Trust in March 2015 to establish a pilot programme. The hub’s theme is “Memory and History”; it is envisaged that by remembering and making sense of the past, we come to terms with our present and can imagine and construct our future
To date other hubs have been identified, including:
- Market Theatre Foundation: The Market Theatre Foundation is a renowned cultural institution in Johannesburg, South Africa, known for its influential role in protest theatre during apartheid. It continues to be a vital platform for contemporary South African theatre, fostering new talent and producing innovative works. The foundation also operates associated facilities like the Market Photo Workshop and the Market Laboratory. https://markettheatre.co.za/
- Javett Art Centre-University of Pretoria: The Javett Art Centre is a modern art museum and cultural hub located at the University of Pretoria. It houses significant collections of African art, including ancient artefacts and contemporary works. The centre aims to promote art education, research, and cultural engagement within the university community and beyond. https://javettup.art/
- Wits Origins Centre: The Origins Centre is a museum and research institute at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg. It focuses on the origins of humankind and the history of human cultural development in Africa. The centre features exhibits on human evolution, rock art, and early African cultures, serving as an important educational and research resource. https://www.wits.ac.za/origins/
- University of Cape Town Jagger Library: The Jagger Library was a historic library at the University of Cape Town, housing rare and valuable collections. It was tragically destroyed by a fire in April 2021, resulting in the loss of many irreplaceable documents and artefacts. Efforts are ongoing to salvage and digitise surviving materials, while the university community works to rebuild and preserve its scholarly heritage. https://lib.uct.ac.za/jagger-recovery
- African Languages Literary Heritage Research Hub: The Nelson Mandela University African Languages Literary Heritage Research Hub is an academic centre focused on preserving, studying, and promoting literature in African languages. The hub engages in collecting, digitising, and archiving literary works in various African languages, making these resources more accessible to researchers and the public. The hub researches the historical and cultural significance of African language literature, contributing to the broader field of African literary studies.