The ABSA L’Atelier Art Competition for Young Visual Artists is an exciting opportunity for emerging artists in Africa to showcase their creativity and talent. ABSA, one of Africa’s largest financial services groups, has been running this competition since 1984. It has played a significant role in identifying and supporting young African artists.
The competition is open to visual artists aged 21 to 35, from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. It aims to identify and nurture young talent in the visual arts, with a particular focus on contemporary African art.
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The competition has two stages. The artists submit their work online in the first stage. The judges invite the 100 artists selected from the first stage to submit their physical artwork for consideration. The judges then select the winners from this group.
The winners of the competition receive a range of prizes. The prizes include cash awards, artist residencies, and the opportunity to participate in exhibitions both locally and internationally. The winner receives a cash prize of R 450 000, while the runner-up receives a cash prize of R 125 000.
The Competition is a fantastic opportunity for young African artists to gain recognition for their work. They also get the opportunity to their careers to the next level. The competition has become a beacon of hope for many upcoming artists, as many of them go on to achieve great success in the art world.
The competition also plays an important role in promoting contemporary African art. Through the competition, ABSA is helping to build a strong and vibrant art scene in Africa. It is also contributing to the development of the continent’s cultural and creative industries.
If you are a young visual artist based in one of the countries eligible for the competition, we encourage you to apply. This is an opportunity not to be missed, and we wish all applicants the best of luck in their submissions.
