Absa L’Atelier

Partnership with Absa

The partnership with Absa is 38 years strong and this partnership has enabled many artists to be part of South African art history. The Absa L’Atelier has consistently contributed to a database of artists nationally and internationally. This competition now includes 11 other African countries, and this registers this competition as a global contribution to advancing the visual arts and celebrating the rich diversity of artistic talent across the African continent.

This year, The Absa L’Atelier also celebrates 20 years of the Gerard Sekoto prize, a partnership between SANAVA, Absa, the French Embassy in South Africa and IFAS. The Absa L’Atelier continues with its format of seeking 3 African Visual Art Ambassadors and a South African, Gerard Sekoto winner. Through its African footprint, the Absa L’Atelier has also continued to create partnerships with in-country local art organization’s, in helping them to further their vision in supporting and recognizing local artistic talent.

Competition

The Absa L’Atelier Art Competition is one of South Africa’s most prestigious art competitions. It rewards young visual artists with the opportunity to develop their talents abroad.

About

The Absa L’Atelier is a leading Pan-African art competition. It has been running for 37 years and is hosted annually by Absa in partnership with SANAVA. The Absa L’Atelier’s objective  is to afford the winning artist(s) with the relevant skillset to develop and thrive as an artist in a forever changing world.

Every year, emerging visual artists from across Africa are given the opportunity to showcase their talents through the Absa L’Atelier. Additionally, the competition offers them a platform to explore themes and contemporary issues, while setting the stage to bring their possibilities to life. One only has to look at the past winning artists who have become ambassadors, to see how winning the Absa L’Atelier has helped to launch their careers and ultimately to grow their craft on a global stage.

Aged between 21 and 40, artists who are citizens, permanent residents or residents in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, the Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia are eligible to enter the competition.

If you consider yourself to be a dynamic and passionate artist who is ready to bring your artistic possibilities to life, then the Absa L’Atelier is the competition for you.

For more details, please contact the Absa L’Atelier team at gallery@absa.co.za. 

ABSA L’ATELIER WEBSITE

Partners

Primary partners

• Absa Group Limited
• South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA).

Sponsors of the Gerard Sekoto Award

• The French Embassy in South Africa
• Institut Français d’Afrique du Sud.