Curation Residencies in South Africa

Africa Centre

Cape Town, South Africa

The Africa Centre's Artists In Residency (AIR) programme, established in , partners with artist residency programs globally to fund and support African artists across all artistic disciplines. The program covers all residency costs and round-trip airfare, allowing artists at various career stages to participate in short-term residencies that enable them to consolidate their work and develop new projects.

Nirox Foundation

Krugersdorp, South Africa

The NIROX Foundation in Krugersdorp, South Africa, is a sculpture park and artist residency program located on a nature reserve in the Cradle of Humankind, offering artists studio spaces, full board and lodging, tools, curatorial guidance, and access to a 30-hectare park with over 50 installations. It hosts artists from diverse fields for residencies typically lasting 1-3 months or 6-8 weeks, encouraging engagement with local communities, institutions, and the landscape while providing opportunities for workshops, exhibitions, and collaborations. Since 2006, NIROX has hosted over 400 artists, fostering contemporary art production in a serene natural setting.

The Bag Factory is a historic 33-year-old non-profit artist studio complex in Johannesburg, South Africa, providing studios, residencies, exhibitions, and workshops for visual artists in a supportive, non-hierarchical community. It offers multiple residency formats including self-funded options at $500/month, partially-funded 3-month visiting artist programs, and fully-funded opportunities for emerging artists from specific African countries, culminating in open studios and public exhibitions. The program emphasizes exchange between local and international visual practitioners in Johannesburg's vibrant art scene.

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA)

Cape Town, South Africa

The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in collaboration with the University of the Western Cape (UWC) offers a year-long museum fellowship programme aimed at educating a new generation of art and museum professionals in Africa. This programme provides fellows with a comprehensive experience that includes academic coursework, practical work experience, and professional development. Participants engage in contemporary art discourse, curatorial practice, art education, conservation, heritage, and museology. The fellowship covers tuition, accommodation, basic health insurance, and a monthly stipend, while also providing opportunities for exhibitions, artist talks, and networking. The programme seeks applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, excellent writing skills, and a demonstrated interest in contemporary art and heritage from Africa.