Art School Africa

The Investec Cape Town Art Fair is officially around the corner, and we’re so excited to be part of the action for the third year in a row!

After curating the Art Walks Programme for the past two years, we’re excited to announce that we’ll also be curating the Talks Programme this year, expanding our involvement in the fair even further.

As you all know, we’re committed to empowering and supporting art professionals across the continent through free educational talks and workshops that offer valuable insights into the art world. We’re proud to extend our mission through this initiative and can’t wait to share more about our incredible speakers and topics in the coming weeks.

For now, see the dates and times to diarise ✍🏼

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Art School Africa is going full circle this summer, offering artists in our community the chance to showcase their work at our inaugural Summer Exhibition!

Submission Deadline: 30 August 2024

How to Submit:
1. Please submit 1-2 artworks for consideration. Each artwork should be accompanied by a brief description including the title, medium, and dimensions.
2. All submissions should be sent in high-quality digital format (JPG or PNG) to [email protected]. Ensure that each file is labeled with your name and artwork title.
3. Include a document with a brief artist bio and a description of each artwork. This helps us understand your creative process and context.

Selection Process:
- All submitted artworks will go through a selection process.
- Selected artists will be notified by 6 September 2024. Please note that not all submissions may be selected, and feedback will not necessarily be provided.

Logistics:
- If selected, you will be provided with detailed instructions for the delivery/ collection of physical artworks. All artworks need to be exhibition ready (with hanging mechanisms in place).
- Dates and venue details to be publicly announced in September 2024.

*Artists must be between the ages of 18 and 35.

If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

Join us on our mission! As a small team with grand ambitions, we're dedicated to bringing our community together through accessible workshops, online content, and networking events. But we can't do it alone. As a registered non-profit, we rely on the generosity of donors and members to keep our vision alive.

We invite you to join our latest crowdfunding competition for only R50.00 and stand a chance to win the following:

🎨 A personal consultation with the talented Anelisa Mangcu (Founder of Under the Aegis and Art School Africa Advisory Board Member)
💳 R500 voucher for The Deckle Edge
🌟 One-on-one mentorship consultation with Julia Buchanan (Independent Art Director and Founder of Art School Africa)
🔧 Free access to three workshops over the next year (June 2024 – June 2025)

Each contribution goes a long way in shaping the future of our organisation and making a difference in our community.

To win, please use the crowdfunding link:

https://artschoolafrica.com/products/crowdfunding-competition-entry

Don't miss out! The winner will be announced on 30 June 2024.

Bright, bold, brand new logo — same us! We're excited to share our new look with you. Representing diversity in community and conversation, the power of networking, our plethora of offerings and the topics covered, building blocks, and our sunny, optimistic spirit, we're looking forward to growing to even greater heights — together! More soon.

A big thank you to the team at Canvas for your generosity and for this beautiful design that so perfectly encompasses what we stand for.

Starting and growing a non-profit organisation for good is not an easy feat! One thing is for sure — we couldn’t do it without you, our supportive community.

We've compiled a snapshot of Art School Africa's successes and impact in numbers in our first year of running. From a blooming digital community to 30 online educational videos, 50 guest speakers, and reaching art and creative communities in South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Turkey, the UK, USA, and beyond (50,000+ of you on Instagram alone, to be exact), swipe to discover who's shaping new narratives with us and just how we're doing it.

Thank you to our sponsors and donors, particularly Stonehage Fleming, who've walked the journey with us thus far. Thank you to all of the incredible organisations and individuals we've had the honour of working with, including Harvard Center for African Studies, Everard Read, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, the Muholi Art Institute, Under the Aegis, the Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography, THK Gallery, Orms Cape Town School of Photography, Southern Guild, and more.

The best part? We're only just getting started!

Join us at our upcoming workshop! Hosted in collaboration with the highly respected Sean O’Toole and Nkgopoleng Moloi, both distinguished art writers based in Cape Town, it will focus on the intricacies of being an art writer in today's digital age.

Topics covered will include the art of monetising one's practice, exploring job opportunities available to art writers in South Africa and beyond, finding creative motivation, and navigating the digital landscape of art writing and criticism.

It promises to be an informative session for anyone interested in the ever-changing dynamics of contemporary art discourse.

Space is limited, so please make sure to buy your ticket online while you still can:

https://artschoolafrica.com/products/workshop-art-writing-in-today-s-digital-landscape

We're looking forward to seeing you there!

We are delighted to host our second iteration of Creative Conversations this month and launch a very exciting partnership! Local brand Me&B has joined Art School Africa as an ongoing partner, further enhancing this special series of events.

For those who aren’t familiar with it, Creative Conversations is a series of insightful evenings designed for womxn within South Africa’s creative industry (spanning fashion, art, architecture, and more). Each event features delicious food and wine — and now fashion — alongside engaging discussions that explore the intersection of creativity and commerce.

This month’s event will be hosted at Southern Guild’s Residency, currently occupied by Xanthe Somers. Guests will be treated to an enlightening panel discussion on ‘capitalising on your creativity’, followed by a bespoke dinner by Annalize Catering. Speakers include Xanthe Somers, Kelly Gibberd and Le'Chelle Aldridge.

We are fully booked for this Creative Conversations. If you’d like to stay informed about future events, please sign up for our mailer:

https://artschoolafrica.com/

We're back with another Art Scene selection, this time spotlighting works on show in Mexico City, Berlin, Accra, Johannesburg, Cape Town and London, and online.

We would also like to draw your attention to 'When Artists Unite: For Vusi Beauchamp', a fundraising exhibition for Vusi Beauchamp, a critically acclaimed contemporary South African artist who needs urgent, life-saving heart surgery. Hosted by Kalashnikovv Gallery in conjunction with Aspire Art, a selection of works is being auctioned online until 16 April 2024.

You can find out more here: https://lnkd.in/dG2bpV-b

We invite you to use our Art Scene selection to find out about works on show across the continent or about African artists on show around the world — and to help you plan your weekend!

1. Papa by Lesego Vorster as part of When Artists Unite: For Vusi Beauchamp
2. Dzidzɔ kple amenuveve (Joy and Grace) installation by Atta Kwami at Serpentine Galleries North Garden, London
3. Kelly Wieck as part of Blurring The Lines by THE FOURTH
4. Zanele Montle as part of Inter Opsia at Kalashnikovv Gallery
5. We Do Not Sleep to Dream by Kelvin Haizel at Gallery 1957, Accra
6. Moshekwa Langa as part of Lucia Striking A Crucifex hosted by Galerie Nordenhake, Mexico City
7. Divine, but Zig-Zag by Boemo Diale as part of Playgrounds at Latitudes Centre for the Arts (Latitudes Online)
8. Karl-Marx-Luanda (detail) by Kiluanji Kia Henda as part of Echoes of the Brother Countries at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), Berlin
9. A Gentle Inoffensive Trace by Vida Madighi-Oghu at CHURCH Projects
10. Mafatsi A Tlhakana (The Meeting of Different Realms) by Mmakgabo Mmapula Helen Sebidi as part of Ntlo E Etsamayang, (The Walking House) at UJ Art Gallery (University of Johannesburg) in partnership with Everard Read Gallery Johannesburg and the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria

We'd love to hear from you! To ensure Art School Africa is growing alongside our community, please take a few minutes to answer our very short survey.

https://bit.ly/4czNGjp

One lucky person stands a chance to win a R500 voucher from The Deckle Edge as our thank you. We truly appreciate any input.