Vuleka Art Competition was established in 1963 under a different name and is the oldest continuous art competition in South Africa. ‘Vuleka’ means open in isiXhosa and true to its name, Vuleka Art Conpetition 2025 is open to all South African artists who have not yet held a solo exhibition. The competition is in association with Art.b Gallery and the City of Cape Town.
For the past three years, the adjudication has been conducted in such a way that not even the three judges are aware of each other’s choices until the very end, assuring a fair and impartial judging process. For the past 60 years, the competition has drawn entries from now prominent artists including William Kentridge, Sue Williamson, Christo Coetzee, and many more.
The competition is unique in that all mediums, including conceptual pieces, come under the same scrutiny and are evaluated on an equal footing. The competition provides a critical platform for new voices in the art world, celebrating diversity and embracing submissions that range from traditional craftsmanship to bold, conceptual innovations. Each entry represents a perspective and contributes to the ever-evolving artistic landscape.
Submission Guidlines
- Submissions open on the 15th of June and close on the 2nd of July 2025. Entries should be submitted online through the Online Entry Form under the Tab DIGITAL ENTRY. An exhibition of chosen works takes place on the 2nd of August 2025. All works must be collected by the 5th of September 2025. Uncollected works will incur a storage fee of R200 per month for 2 months, after which it will be disposed of.
- Accepted mediums include painting, sculpture, ceramics, drawing, photography, collage, assemblage and digital art, offering a broad canvas for creative exploration.
- Only original works of art completed during 2024/2025 may be entered. All works remain the property of the entrant for the duration of the competition and exhibition, unless a work is sold at the exhibition.
- A maximum of 5 works may be entered.
- Artworks in media such as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, film and digital are allowed.
- Works consisting of multiple parts (i.e. diptychs or triptychs) will be accepted and must be entered as one work. The work must be submitted on one photograph for the digital entry.
- Video projection/film or multimedia art entries must make arrangements for their own means of projection.
Who May Enter
- The competition is open to permanent residents in South Africa aged 18 years or older.
- Sponsors of the competition and the judges adjudicating the 2025 award as well as their immediate family are not eligible for entry.
- Previous first prize winners are not eligible for entry.
- Artists who have had a solo exhibition in the past three years, academic solo exhibitions are exempt, are not eligible for entry.
Which works are eligible for submission?
- The copyright of all works submitted should belong to the submitting artist.
- It remains the artist’s responsibility to obtain proper permissions for the usage of anyone’s image, whether from a sitter or a creator of a reference image.
- Collaborative artworks compiled by a maximum of two artists will be accepted, however one artist has to be the owner of the artwork.
- No AI artworks are allowed.
- All works are submitted at the owner’s risk. Neither Art.b nor the sponsors will accept any responsibility for the damage, loss or theft of any works of art while in transit or on exhibition.
- All entries are to be for sale at a market-related price and Art.b Gallery will act as the appointed agent. The entrant must provide a selling price for each work. Art.b Gallery will deduct a 33.3% commission on all sales. Art.b Gallery’s appointment will automatically terminate when the work has been returned to the entrant, or sold.
Size Limitations
Minimum size: 20cm width x 20cm height (unframed). Works smaller than this WILL be disqualified.
Maximum size: 200cm width x 200cm height (framed). Works larger than this WILL be disqualified.
Sculptures must be able to stand without support & may not exceed 100 kg. Sculptures that exceed this mass will be disqualified.
Other Rules
- The entrant may not sign or write their name anywhere on the work, including on the back. All works will be judged anonymously and any work that is signed or contains any marking identifying the entrant may be disqualified. All selected works may be signed after the Vuleka winners have been announced.
- Work previously exhibited in the public domain, including but not limited to, electronic media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or on a website, may not be entered into this competition.
- Entrants should email a copy of a document confirming their identity and age such as an ID, driver’s license or passport, and a copy of proof of payment to Art.b once they have submitted their Digital Entry Form.
- During the first round, the digital images will be viewed by a panel of judges. They will select up to 100 works from the digital entries. These artists will be notified by Art.b Gallery via telephone, email or WhatsApp by the 15th of July.
- The decision of the judges is final. No correspondence will be entered into. Entrants should be aware that all artworks are judged on an equal and anonymous basis.
- Art.b Gallery reserves the right to disqualify any artwork if the artist has not complied with the above rules as stipulated, even if the work was selected for exhibition.
Prizes
The Conrad Theys first prize of R50,000 awaits this year’s top artist, promising a transformative opportunity for the next creative visionary.
