Faculty of Arts and Design takes a visible, collective stance against GBV

The Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Arts and Design lit up in orange on Monday, 2 March, to spotlight Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and honour those affected with compassion and solidarity

The activation, Claiming Orange in Spaces, took place at the Heidehof Residence on the Arts Campus and kicked off a year-long series of monthly engagements for 2026. Each last Thursday of the month, the TUT community is invited to stand together in a visible, collective stance against GBV.

Coinciding with International Women’s Day week, the March activation launched a campus-wide call for staff and students to wear orange on the last Thursday of every month, joining GBV artivism in solidarity. The project invites everyone at TUT to “claim orange” in shared spaces, turning everyday campus areas into sites of unity and public condemnation of violence.

The event featured dance performances, performed dialogue and a collective moment of silence. Through movement and shared presence, campus spaces are transformed into expressions of solidarity and a public pledge against violence.

Throughout 2026, Claiming Orange in Spaces will span multiple TUT campuses and high-risk spaces, expanding beyond one site to foster ongoing engagement. By occupying space with colour, movement and gathering, the initiative aligns with national GBV efforts and supports research showing that creative, participatory practices strengthen community cohesion and influence social norms around violence.

The project is co-led by Dr Nicola Haskins and Dr Karina Lemmer, lecturers in Performing Arts and co-chairs of the Research Niche Area: Artivism as a Tool to Combat GBV, whose aim is to nurture collective responsibility and sustained public engagement in response to South Africa’s GBV crisis.

📸 Kamogelo Gumede