Painting Residencies in South Africa

Bag Factory

Johannesburg, South Africa

The Bag Factory Artists' Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a non-profit organization established in 1991 that provides studio spaces, residencies, exhibitions, and workshops for visual artists, fostering experimentation, innovation, and cultural dialogue. It offers residency programs including self-funded AIR residencies and fully funded opportunities through partnerships like the Triangle Network, where artists produce work, engage with locals, and culminate in open studios or exhibitions. Programs like Young/Unframed provide 3-month residencies pairing artists and curators to create new work.

Driftwood Studios

East London, South Africa

Driftwood Studios is a self-funded, low-cost artist residency program established in by sculptor George Kockott and his wife Claire, located in a natural coastal dune forest near East London, South Africa. It offers private and shared studios, workshops for sculpture, pottery, woodworking, metalwork, and a gallery space suitable for performers, hosting up to 5 artists with their families or partners. The program provides self-catering accommodation, mentoring, community connections, and access to local resources in an inspiring Indian Ocean setting.

Greatmore Studios

Cape Town, South Africa

Greatmore Studios is an artist-led residency program in Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa, established in 1998 to provide studio spaces and foster collaboration between local and international artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. It offers residencies that encourage creative experimentation, professional development, and community outreach through exhibitions, workshops, and public events. The program supports both sponsored and self-funded artists with facilities including studios, exhibition spaces, and a digital resource center.

META foundation

Johannesburg, South Africa

The META Foundation's August House Artist Residency in Johannesburg offers a partially-funded 3-month program providing visual artists with dedicated studio space and furnished accommodation in South Africa's largest artist community of over 50 practitioners at 76 End Street, Doornfontein. Established in as a non-profit to support August House, it enables emerging and established artists to immerse in Johannesburg's dynamic creative ecosystem while co-financing at R3,500 per month. The program includes access to studios suitable for painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, and installations, plus amenities like uncapped internet, parking, and networking events.

Oaklands Artist in Residence (OaklandsAiR)

Wellington, South Africa

Oaklands Artist in Residence is an artist-run program located in the mountains, 90km from Cape Town, aimed at providing a unique and focused environment for creative projects. Situated on a farm on the edge of the Limietberg World Heritage Site, OaklandsAiR offers residencies to fine artists, landscape architects, writers, and researchers across various fields. The residency provides a rustic yet well-equipped setting, with self-catering cottages and studios in a converted foaling barn. The program is open to international and South African artists, offering a serene rural environment conducive to creativity and exploration. Artists benefit from access to natural materials, scenic hiking trails, and a supportive network of local artists and galleries. OaklandsAiR facilitates various activities, including site-specific projects, outdoor excursions, and final open studio events. The residency also includes a farm-to-table restaurant, Vygie, which operates on the premises, enhancing the communal experience.

Oaklands Farm

Wellington, South Africa

Oaklands Artist in Residence (OaklandsAiR) is an artist-run program on a farm in the mountains 90km from Cape Town, South Africa, offering a focused, nature-immersive environment within the Limietberg World Heritage Site for fine artists, writers, researchers, and landscape architects. Residents live in self-catering cottages and work in private studios in a converted foaling barn, with access to natural materials, outdoor spaces, and Wellington's creative network including kilns and presses. The residency emphasizes rural tranquility, biodiversity, hiking trails, and proximity to Cape Town's arts scene.

The Bag Factory

Johannesburg, South Africa

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.