City calls on artists

The City of Cape Town’s arts and culture branch has called on emerging artists to apply for a programme aimed at providing them with access to opportunities, build capacity and showcase their work.

The free Emerging Artist Programme, which will start on Tuesday May 28, will consist of sector-specific workshops and excursions and will conclude with an exhibition.

Workshop themes to be covered include:

Introduction to the arts: A broad overview of the Arts sector in South Africa

From Studio to Gallery: An in-depth workshop designed to evaluate and build capacities of artists to access and leverage opportunities

Emerging Artist Exhibition: This workshop will be a practical implementation of the skills acquired to develop and implement an exhibition and Education excursions to cultural spaces located in Cape Town.

“The Emerging Artists Programme is a City initiative aimed at assisting under-resourced emerging artists based in Cape Town to access opportunities and build capacity. It focuses primarily on artists who’ve not had the benefit of resources, training and exposure as a result of historic inequality and under-development,’ said Zahid Badroodien, the City’s mayoral committee member for community services and health.

“During the early stages of their careers, artists often face financial stress and struggle to access resources. This programme will give artists the necessary tools and the practical skills to help them leverage opportunities. This is a pilot incubation programme with possible continuing opportunities,’ said Mr Badroodien.

If you are a practising emerging visual artist and would like to participate in the capacity building programme, focusing on understanding the process of and getting ready to exhibit your work, you can apply for the possible selection to the Emerging Artists Capacity Building Programme: Getting Exhibition Ready.

The programme will take place on Fridays and Saturdays and all sessions are compulsory.

For more information, call Dammon Rice on 082 717 0993 or email emerging@capetown.gov.za