Twenty-two artists have donated works to support sea turtle conservation.
The artists created miniature art pieces for the Noordhoek Art Point Gallery’s Tiny Art exhibition fund-raiser in aid of the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s mission to rehabilitate stranded sea turtles and build a new turtle conservation centre at the V&A Waterfront.
“All these artists were chosen because we share a deep passion for the sea, turtles, and all the inhabitants of this beautiful environment,” said Michelle Beattie, the founder of the Tiny Art Gallery Cape Town.
Kommetjie environmental artist Janet Ormond’s Just Hatched, a 6cm x 6cm framed piece sculpted from ocean plastic, is among the exhibits.
The turtle conservation centre will include a turtle rehabilitation hospital, education facilities, exhibition displays, a restaurant, and a shop, according to Two Oceans Aquarium spokesperson Heather Wares.
Construction of the multimillion-rand centre, planned as part of the V&A Waterfront’s Granger Bay precinct improvement project, is scheduled to start in 2026.
The V&A Waterfront will cover the building’s construction costs, but the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation is responsible for fitting out the facility.
This includes veterinary equipment, quarantine facilities, public areas and rehabilitation pools, with costs estimated from R30 million to R50 million.
According to Ms Wares, the new facility will show various species of turtles in their care and provide an opportunity to share information about turtles and their marine ecosystems.
She said they typically found stranded hatchlings from February to May when they’re swept out of the warm Agulhas current. However, this year, a severe storm exacerbated the situation, leading to a record number of turtle hatchlings washing up on the shore.
“Since early April, the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Turtle Rescue Network and Conservation Centre has taken in 578 stranded turtle hatchlings,” she said.
They were also found on Muizenberg and Fish Hoek beaches, where people and the Turtle Rescue Network helped rescue them.
“This centre will also demonstrate the care required to nurse turtles back to health. Rehabilitation for each turtle hatchling costs around R10 000, which adds up quickly when multiplied by 500,” she said.
“Fund-raisers like the Tiny Art collection being exhibited at Noordhoek Art Point Gallery are crucial not only for outfitting the turtle conservation centre but also for supporting our current work,” said Ms Wares.
Visitors to the exhibition will have the chance to win the entire Tiny Art collection on display. The exhibition runs until Sunday June 30, and the winner will be announced on Monday July 15.
