Performance 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.

Bodhi Khaya Residency

Stanford, South Africa

Bodhi Khaya Artist Residency is an annual two-week, funded residency created by and for artists, founded in to provide emerging and mid-career South African artists with opportunities to explore their relationship with the environment through creative practice. Artists immerse themselves across three neighboring nature reserves surrounded by Afro-montane forests and fynbos, with the land itself serving as a collaborator in their artistic exploration.

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.

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.

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.

Tankwa Artscape

Calvinia, South Africa

Tankwa Artscape is a funded two-week annual artist residency for 10-12 national and international artists in the Tankwa Karoo, South Africa, focusing on site-responsive practices such as sculptural art, spoken word, sound, movement, and performance art using found materials. Founded in , it emphasizes creative confrontation with the desert's harsh environment, history, ecology, and culture, encouraging ephemeral works, collaborations, and documentation through photography, video, and audio. Accommodation in tents and meals are provided free, with limited material support, though travel and artist fees are not covered.

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.