Branches of SANAVA are independent art associations, art clubs or community groups in the visual arts that organise workshops, events and exhibitions. Branches are comprised of at least five members, and an executive committee. It offers membership to the general public. Any individual member that joins a SANAVA branch is automatically a member of SANAVA.
We are registered as a non-profit organisation with the Department of Social Development and as a public benefit organisation with the South African Revenue Service.
We are also a member of the International Association of Art – a non-governmental organisation of UNESCO – with its head office in Paris, France.
Eastern Cape
East London
artEC (formerly EPSAC) is a non profit organisation and Community Art Centre, set up for the “advancement of the Visual Arts and Art Craftsmanship” by working to uplift the arts in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, helping artists and encouraging a public interest in the arts.
They have undergone ambitious changes to reposition artEC as a society which is relevant to all members of the art and craft community, and to raise the standards of art, both in PE and the rest of the Eastern Cape.
Louise Luders, Chairperson
louiseluders@mweb.co.za
36 Bird Street, Port Elizaberth Central, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
PORT ELIZABETH | Gqeberha
Formed in November 1925 and following on the activities after 1946 when the Ann Bryant Art Gallery was established, the society played a meaningful role in gathering art to bolster the bequest by Mrs Ann Bryant and purchased a number of artworks for the collection over the years. At present the society has 90 paid-up members and is affiliated to the South African National Association for the Visual Arts, SANAVA. The society holds an annual exhibition of members’ work in the Gallery, as well as a Peep Show, of miniature paintings, and Anything but Paint exhibition.
Leon du Preez, Chairperson
www.annbryant.co.za
9 St Mark’s Road, Southernwood, East London
Gauteng
Pretoria
The Association of Arts Pretoria is one of the oldest arts associations in the country striving to promote excellence in the visual arts. They increase the accessibility of the arts by showing and promoting work of both established and young artists in classic and modern fields at regular exhibitions. They bring the arts to the public through their active community of artists and art lovers.
In addition to numerous exhibitions and recitals they organise the longest running national art competition for emerging artists – the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition.
The purpose is to maintain the best standards of exhibited art, whether classic, experimental or highly original. They do evaluations and restoration of art works and have special events such as walkabouts, relevant book launches..
As a member an artist becomes part of an active association exposing artists to the ever-evolving art scene of Pretoria. Members will receive invitations to exhibitions, walkabouts, recitals and all the other special events held at the Association of Arts Pretoria.
Nandi Hilliard, Gallery Manager
+27 (12) 346 3100
173 Mackie Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Pretoria, 0181
Centurion
JustLUVart “Art with a purpose” – Youth and Adults Focussing on: painting, drawing and lino printing – Prophetic – Comic /POP/Anime Art – Street art – Public art. Their focus is to find inspiration from nature, to spread the Gospel through excellent art, to uplift the community and to give hope and joy through art. This art club is based on the Scripture of Jeremiah 48:40 – “Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab”.
Mariette Minnaar, Chairperson
www.justluvart4all.wixsite.com
012 664 1771
Centurion
The Centurion Art Association | Centurion Kunsvereniging (CAA) was established on 23 February 1976. Its first registered name was The South African Art Association – Verwoerdburg. At the time of inception, the Association was a free roaming organisation that made use of the facilities provided by the national body in Pretoria and the Verwoerdburg Town Council (Currently Tshwane Municipality: Recreation and Sport). It was well supported in the past by the Council and the Department of Education and Culture that also rendered financial support for the Artist of the Year exhibition as well as for printed publications.
Suzie Roos, Chairperson
083 328 6491
134 Union Ave, Lyttelton Manor, Centurion, 0157
Limpopo
Naboomspruit
Waterberg Art understands that artists are living in a post-Covid era of lock-downs and the movement towards online exhibitions. The challenge for their arts and crafts community is how to bridge this gap, bring the community, art business and artists closer together and assist artists to thrive and know their art or craft are appreciated and available to people that want to enjoy it or buy it. Their marketing vision is to create display and exhibition spaces in the marketplace. They consider regional facilities that form a network inside and outside their provinces in the form of tourism/art shops that network with other regions. Through advertising and community searches they add old artists and new artists to their association and have quarterly workshops, together with a vibrant online discussions, online exhibitions and e-shop facilities to complement their tourism shop. Through community outreach they are influencing, training and drawing in community members through a many-levelled approach of participation. They have chosen leather, beadwork, and decorative baskets, as products. They are partnering with the Women of Destiny to access communities and assist with personal income generating projects based on Arts and Crafts.
Leonie Louw, Chairperson
Vlakfontein Farm, Naboomspruit, 0560
Mpumalanga
Middelburg
Strive for the promotion of art in the community and grow awareness for new and developing talent.
Talita Lourens, Secretary
highveldart.talita@gmail.com
083 603 2475
Ermelo
Aims and objectives of the Ermelo Art Association are to promote the work of artists in various visual art forms of members and also to other interested artists in the area. They focus on exhibitions, workshops, tours, art competitions, educational programmes and provide feedback and information on all art matters. They aim to build relationships with members by having gatherings where art networks can be built and ideas can be communicated.
Drini Jacobs, Chairperson
anitagrob@hotmail.com
www.kunsartermelo.co.za
North-West
Potchefstroom
Die Potchefstroom Kunsvereniging (PKV) is in 2009 gestig as ‘n ondersteuningsnetwerk vir kunstenaars.
Venessa vd Westhuizen, Chairperson
Klerksdorp
- Bevordering van Visuele Kunste
- Gereelde aanbieding van werkswinkels, projekte, demonstrasies en uitstallings
- Bevordering van plaaslike kunstenaars
- Aanmoediging van oorspronklike, individuele skeppings
- Publieke meelewing
Sandy Schoeman, Chairperson
123sandy@telkomsa.net
084 300 0698
6 Michael Street, Elandsheuwel, Klerksdorp 2571
Western Cape
Wilderness
The Wilderness Art Association was founded in 2018, so a relatively new association.
We have however established the Wilderness Art Festival, Wilderness Art Meander and the Wilderness Open Studios. Among other projects are the art classes in the local township, Touwsranten through Seven Passes Initiative which we help support through Night of 1000 Drawings running concurrently with the art festivals.
We are active in our community with a drive to create a synergy between Wilderness Business and the art community. Our art festivals, art challenges, Night of 1000 Drawings and art platforms are mainly sponsored and supported by the business community.
We aim to make Wilderness an art destination in South Africa through this cohesive spirit.
Carole Durrant, Chairperson
carole@bcreative-design-print.co.za
www.wildernessartfestival.co.za
082 569 0800
223 Leilas Lane, Wilderness
Wellington
Wellington Art Society is a platform for visual artists in Wellington and surrounding areas to network, hold exhibitions, art workshops and gather to inspire and support each other.
Desiree Malan, Chairperson
wellingtonkunsart@gmail.com
082 862 3649
Breytenbach Sentrum, Burgerstraat 14, Wellington, Cape Town, 7654
Stellenbosch
The Stellenbosch Arts Association came into existence on 29 March 2006. It originated from the Artist’s Circle of Stellenbosch to form a new association catering for the needs of not only artists, but also that of non-artists from all over the Winelands interested in visual arts.
Papinka Moller
admin@stellenboschkuns.co.za
079 084 6183
3 Blom Street
Stellenbosch
7600
George
Aims:
- To provide an informal association whereby artists in the Garden Route and surrounds can consider, discuss and interact regarding their artistic endeavours.
- Through the informal exchange of ideas, experience and knowledge, to broaden and improve the creativity of the members.
- Through periodic exhibitions expose and sell the work of the members to the public.
René Scribante, Chairperson
www.scava.co.za
083 627 6757
9 Courtenay St, Bodorp, George, 6530
Worcester
SANAVA Worcester branch promotes the visual arts and further cooperation in visual arts.
David Reade / Anél O’Neill
082 772 4670
Knysna
Established in the early 1980s, the Knysna Arts Society (KAS) has provided this creative community with a platform to network, share, learn, collaborate, exhibit, and showcase their skills, talents and work for nearly 40 years. The Knysna Arts Society currently has 190 member-artists.
The Association host regular exhibitions in the Old Gaol in Queen Street to provide artist with a platform to display their creativity. Studio visits are very popular and are arranged monthly to introduce various artists to the members and to learn from each other. KAS serves to advertise art workshops and private exhibitions by members and the many art teachers in the organisation.
In 2023 KAS added a crafters competition – the Kiri-Kiri project that ended with a price giving party on a Paddle Cruiser on the Knysna Estuary. The “Be Seated” 3-D exhibition was another opportunity to involve crafters in a fun exhibition that also included poetry submissions.
In 2020, the Knysna Arts Society, in partnership with the Greater Knysna Municipality and Knysna’s tourism organisation, embarked on the #KnysnaArtProject – an initiative to make art more accessible by introducing it to outdoor public spaces and establishing a self-drive interactive art route.
To date the #KnysnaArtProject has seen the creation of the Sedgefield “Love Bug “- an exquisitely mosaiced VW beetle parked on the side of the estuary; the Buffels Baai “Boardwalk” – a series of surf-themed murals and surfboard artworks by different artists; the Brenton on Sea “Wall of Wings” – a giant steel tribute to the Brenton Blue Butterfly; the “Kringe in ‘n Bos” mural – a tribute to author Dalene Matthee and Knysna’s forests; and the “Rasta on the Mount” – a towering 2,2m tall tribute to Rastafari messiah Haile Selassi.
Zelmarie van Rooyen, Chairperson
082 447 7703
The Old Gaol Gallery, Corner of Queen Street and Main Road, Knysna, Western Cape 6571
Cape Town
Blaauwberg Art Society’s aim is to encourage and support new artists. They provide a supportive and creative environment which promotes continuous learning and improvement of artists’ skills
They invite established artists to give talks and demonstrate their techniques at the meetings which are then followed up with workshops held by the various artists.
They hold exhibitions where our members can showcase their work and gain exposure. Plein air outings are organised to various locations around Cape Town.
Glenda Chambers, Chairperson
www.blaauwbergaerspciety.co.za
baseartsociety@mweb.co.za | ldouglass21@gmail.com
19 Balmoral rd, West beach, Milnerton, Cape Town
Artist in Residence South Africa, AiRSA, is a registered NPO 243-824, offering funded annual artist residencies in South Africa, for emerging, mid-career and established national and international artists.
Artists in Residence programs give artists the opportunity to live and work outside of their usual environments, providing them with time to reflect, research, and produce work based on the experiences in the given environment. Artist residencies have become intrinsic to many artistic careers.
Residencies enable artists to do fieldwork and to work on-site, in order to map out, collect, research and generate new perspectives. This kind of ‘embedded research’ contributes to public and professional awareness. It reinforces the concept of artists’ residencies as cells of knowledge and alternative academies.
We particularly encourage artists to explore ‘place’ as a concept which incorporates the environment and the people who engage with it. We believe that artworks created at our residencies not only imply a respect for place, but also a desire to reveal and comment upon our relationship with it, rather than exploiting it for the sake of art.
Our Current residencies include The Tankwa Artscape & Bodhi Khaya Residencies.
Documentation for both residencies is through video, photography and audio podcasts. We provide a group of photographers / videographers to document artworks and artistic processes.
Kim Goodwin
artistinresidencesouthafrica@gmail.com
AIRSA NPO 243 824
PO Box 649 Ceres 6835
Bellville
The Arts Association of Bellville (art.b), is a dynamic and innovative, community-orientated organisation primarily managed by volunteers and partially supported by The City of Cape Town. The organisation strives to:
- Support artists from all different cultural and economic backgrounds, with the focus on emerging artists.
- Offer educational value and showcase visual art and artists [primarily local] to raise public awareness of art.
- Gain financial independence to employ the necessary staff, host exhibitions, present outreach programmes and other art related projects. All generated funds (membership fees; commissions; donations; sales; etc) will be invested directly and indirectly to the benefits of the gallery.
- Fundraising is a priority to insure the continued existence and growth of the gallery.
- To utilise the gallery space to its maximum potential in order to display a wide as possible variety of visual and multimedia art.
Anne Wells, Chairperson
021 444 6500
art.b gallery, Library Centre, Carl van Aswegen Street, Bellville 7530