Javett-UP Bids Farewell to Board Member Professor Caroline Nicholson

The Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett-UP) bids farewell to Art Centre Foundation’s Board of Trustees Member and EXCO Chairperson, Professor Caroline Nicholson, who is retiring after years of exceptional leadership and dedicated service. A steadfast champion of the Centre’s vision, she offered unwavering commitment during her tenure as Registrar of the University of Pretoria (UP). Her extensive legal expertise proved invaluable in guiding the board through governance matters, and she served as a vital bridge between the University and the Art Centre.

Prof. Nicholson’s retirement marks the end of a distinguished career spanning more than two decades at UP. She assumed the role of Registrar in 2018, at a time when the construction of the Javett-UP was reaching its final stages. She recalls being drawn into the Centre’s project during the period. “There were challenges around the construction company, and I was asked to assist from the legal side. That was the beginning of my involvement and, later, my invitation to join the Board of Trustees in late 2018,” she explains.

Looking back at the evolution of Javett-UP, Prof. Nicholson notes that the Art Centre has matured and expresses deep optimism for its future. “Now, the Centre has discovered its own personality- its place in the art world, its voice, and its relationship with the public. The Javett-UP has enormous potential. We are only beginning to tap into it. My hope is that communities increasingly recognise it as a space for them, not only for art lovers or connoisseurs. We are breaking new ground, and I believe the Centre will continue to grow from strength to strength.”

Prof. Nicholson’s academic and professional journey reflects an outstanding progression through the ranks of academia- from lecturer to professor, department head, and ultimately one of the University’s most senior leadership roles: Registrar. Prior to her appointment as Registrar, Prof. Nicholson served as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) and completed two terms as an acting judge in the Free State Division of the High Court of South Africa. She holds BProc and LLB degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as an LLM in Banking Law and an LLD in Comparative Conflict of Laws from the University of South Africa, where she lectured between 1986 and 1999 before joining UP.

The Javett-UP expresses its profound gratitude to Professor Nicholson for her insight, steady leadership, and the belief she consistently invested in the Centre’s mission. Her contributions have shaped not only the Centre’s development but also its path forward. Her legacy remains deeply woven into the institution’s foundation. 

Happy retirement. You will be missed!