Highlights from a fired-up CK event

Thanks to everyone who joined us for a fun and creative event at Nando’s Central Kitchen (aka CK) on 16 May as part of Contra.Joburg. We loved firing up your senses with art, wine, design and music.

Contra.Joburg (formerly OpenStudios.Joburg) is an annual immersive two-day visual arts experience taking place over a weekend in Johannesburg. This year, the city’s biggest arts fest happened on 25 and 26 May, with 13 different venues open over the two days and a free shuttle running between them.

We welcomed two groups who booked for a special event kicking off at the Victoria Yards shuttle stop. Guests walked across the road to CK, where they got to engage with our Nando’s Creativity programmes for themselves.

On arrival, they were welcomed with a Nando’s Designer Drink and enjoyed the sweet sounds ofNoluthando Ngema, the Nando’s Basadi Emerging Artist of the Year winner for 2023, who performed live.

They then explored our Welcome Centre, hearing about theNando’s Hot Young Designertalent search from Tracy Lynch, creative director of the Nando’s Design Programme. There was an opportunity to meet designers and see their work, before heading up to our rooftop bar, Baraka, for a cheeky wine and art pairing in partnership with Spier Arts Trust (with wines kindly sponsored by Spier).

This was led by Mzwa (aka the voice of Nando’s), who heads up Heatwave, our internal radio station. Guests were introduced to theCreative Blockprogramme, a long-running programme run by our art partner, Spier Arts Trust.

Mzwa then invited guests to help him with pairing some of the Creative Blocks on display with wines from Spier’s Seaward range.

After the wine pairing, guests made their way down to the garden, where they explored artworks from the 2023Nando’s Creative Exchangeexhibition, and met the artists who created them.

Finally, on their way out, guests collected a Creative Block magnet and headed across to the Spier Arts Trust studio in Victoria Yards collect their goodie bags, and continued on to the rest of the Contra.Joburg programme.

Along the way, we reminded everyone to vote for their hottest artwork in the Nando’s Vusa Award social media competition, and to stick up for art with our sticker campaign.

Thanks to everyone for a great day out and a chance to #FeedYourCreativity! Here are some of the photos: