The Peter Clarke Art Centre (PCAC), formerly known as the Frank Joubert Art Centre, was established in 1943 by Captain Frank Joubert, a veteran of World War II and an Administrator of the Cape. Understanding the healing capacity of art, he invested money in the Centre as a place for war veterans and young children to be creative. Art as a matric subject, was offered at the art centre, under the auspices of the Cape Education Department from the 1960s.

Initially housed at Rustenburg House, PCAC moved to its present premises in Vredenhof in 1971. Vredenhof, which is now a National Monument, was designed by John Parker in 1907 for Christiaan Ludolf Marais and this beautiful building remained in the Marais family until 1953. After being the school building and then the hostel of Groote Schuur High School, Vredenhof remained vacant for two years and was subsequently vandalized. After major restoration by the Cape Education Department, this building became the new home of PCAC.

On the 22nd September 2016 the Frank Joubert Art Centre was renamed to the Peter Clarke Art Centre.