Join a working visit for visual arts to South Africa

What?

Flanders and South Africa have a long-running and close cooperation in the field of arts and culture. In 2023-2024, this cooperation will take shape through the ‘Flanders-South Africa cultural cooperation action plan’. With the action plan, we want to connect cultural actors, experts by experience and networks in Flanders and South Africa.

Now we are inviting 2 curators or art professionals (visual art, audiovisual art, sound art, media art, photography) from Flanders to participate in a working visit to the Investec Cape Town Art Fair in Cape Town. The fair is a platform for art galleries, collectors, curators, artists and art lovers from all over the world.

When?

The working visit is from 15 to 18 February 2024 and is organised by the  Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa (FMEA) organisation.

The programme includes visits to museums, presentation institutions, galleries, residencies and meetings with artists, curators and local key figures in Cape Town. FMEA is currently exploring whether the working visit can be opened to other foreign visitors. If desired, participants can stay longer on their own initiative. In that case, Kunstenpunt and the Diplomatic Representation of Flanders in Southern Africa (DVV) can help establish contacts for the rest of the stay.

For whom?

You can apply for this working visit if you meet the following criteria:

• You are a curator or art professional, an emerging or proven talent, and you have at least three years of experience on the counter as a freelancer or in employment.
• You have a clear motivation to immerse yourself in art, culture and contemporary artistic expressions from Africa or already have experience in doing so.
• You want to engage in an intercultural dialogue and exchange between art from Africa, Flanders and the global artistic context.
• You appreciate diverse artistic forms and voices and are committed to showcasing a broad spectrum of artistic backgrounds.
• You like to work with local and international artists, curators and institutions to set up projects or work in partnerships and networks. You also like to use your own networks to benefit others.
• You have a clear vision of exhibition practice and an innovative approach to it.
• You have good communication skills and can establish good contacts with artists, institutions and other stakeholders.
• You are based in Flanders or Brussels.

Practicalities and conditions

• Apply no later than 6 November 2023.
• The trip is intended for 2 participants from Flanders.
• Included are international travel costs (Brussels-Cape Town), 4 nights’ accommodation in Cape Town, meals, local transport and admission to the fair and museums.
• You must be available from 15 to 18 February 2024. You can stay longer at your own initiative and expense.
• The jury that will select the participants consists of representatives from the Department of Culture, Youth and Media, Kunstenpunt, FMEA, the organising partner organisation in South Africa, and Sofia Dati (visual and audiovisual arts programme manager at the Beursschouwburg and one of the previous participants in the programme). The DVV in Southern Africa will participate in the jury as an observer.
• You will hear by 15 November 2023 at the latest whether you have been selected or not.
• Participants will share their knowledge and contacts with the sector afterwards:
  • Submit a trip report no later than 17 March 2024.
  • There will be a feedback moment with the Department of Culture, Youth and Media, the DVV and Kunstenpunt.
• Always mention the support of the Flemish Government in your own communication about the working visit (social media, website …). On social media, use #deptcjm.

Apply

Fill out the form at the bottom of this page and indicate how this work visit contributes to your professional development or to certain projects you have or would like to develop. To serve the partner organisation in South Africa, we ask you to fill in the form in English.

More information

• View the preliminary programme of the working visit. Please note that changes are still possible.
• For general questions, please contact Lucille Lamaker at the Department of Culture, Youth and Media. For substantive questions, please contact Lissa Kinnaer of Kunstenpunt.