Pietermaritzburg, 24 June 2026: Midlands Mall will officially open the 2026 ARTopia exhibition, welcoming shoppers to experience a vibrant showcase of creativity following a record year of participation, next week. A total of 23 schools from Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas have taken part in this year’s Ocean Odyssey-themed competition, beating the number achieved in 2025.
Running from Tuesday 30 June to Sunday 19 July, the exhibition invites visitors to step into a colourful gallery of imagination, where learners from Grades 1 to 7 have brought their interpretations of the underwater world to life in the most colourful ways.
From Classroom Creativity to Centre Stage
Over the past few months, learners have been hard at work on their artworks at their schools, exploring the Ocean Odyssey theme through a range of visual mediums. The Midlands Mall marketing team have also visited numerous schools, encouraging them to put their best foot forward.
The brief encouraged learners to interpret the ocean in their own way, with artworks capturing everything from vibrant coral reefs and marine life to imaginative scenes featuring mythical sea creatures, hidden treasure and underwater adventures.
Soon, at the mall, selected artworks from each school will be curated into a lively exhibition space, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy the work up close. From detailed drawings and paintings to textured collages and three-dimensional creations, each piece reflects a unique perspective on life beneath the waves.
The Public Has Its Say
As part of the exhibition, shoppers are invited to vote for their favourite artworks across three grade categories, ranging from grades 1 to 7. Voting will remain open throughout the exhibition period, with the final winners determined by the votes received. One lucky voter will win a R2 000 Liberty Midlands Mall gift voucher.
There is R45 000 in prize money up for grabs, with each winning learner’s school set to receive R15 000. In addition, the three winning artworks will be transformed into limited edition keepsakes such as colouring in books, pencil cases and sling bags, to be shared with shoppers in phase 3 of the project, extending the impact of the learners’ creativity beyond the exhibition itself.
Lawrence Joubert, General Manager of Midlands Mall, says the response this year has been exceptional. “Seeing 23 schools take part in ARTopia 2026 is really special. The exhibition is filled with imagination, colour and thoughtful storytelling, and it is wonderful to see how learners have interpreted the theme in such different ways. We encourage shoppers to come through, spend time at the exhibition and support these young artists by casting their votes.”
The ARTopia exhibition will be open to the public at Midlands Mall from 30 June to 19 July. Visitors are encouraged to take their time exploring the display and to vote for the artworks that stand out to them.
For more information on Liberty Midlands Mall and its events, go to midlandsmall.co.za or follow Liberty Midlands Mall on social media @libertymidlandsmall.