L’Atelier Art Competition 2018 (Win R330,000 +Trip to Paris)

Deadline: April 27, 2018

Entries are now invited for the L’Atelier Art Competition 2018. L’Atelier is one of Africa’s most prestigious art competitions. It rewards young visual artists with the opportunity to develop their talents abroad. Building on the platform created over the past two years, the competition is continuing to expand across Africa, opening in a number of countries, where Barclays Africa has a presence.

The L’Atelier Art Competition is run in conjunction with L’Atelier partner, the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA).

Prize

There are five prizes for 2018 competition; the first prize, three merit award prizes and Gerard Sekoto Award for the most promising artist. The top 10 finalists will all be placed on a two-day art professionalism course to assist them in managing their careers.

• First prize

• The overall winner receives R330,000 as well as a return flight ticket to Paris, France.
• The prize money must be used for a study term of between three and six months in the studio apartment at the Cité Internationale des Arts, purchased specifically for this purpose. The money will be made available when the winner leaves for Paris.
• Upon returning to their home country, the artist is required to present a solo exhibition at the Absa Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa, which must take place within a year of his/her return from the residency. The artist may not present a solo exhibition at another gallery during this period.
• The prize must be taken up the year after it is presented.
• All entrants are eligible for this prize.
• The date of residency is January to June 2019.

• Merit Award – The South African Residency (Bag Factory Artists’ Studio)

• One merit award winner will win a prize consisting of a three-month residency in Johannesburg, a return flight to Johannesburg and a monthly stipend.
• The prize must be taken up the year after it is presented.
• All entrants are eligible for this prize.
• The date of residency is June to August 2019.

• Merit Award – The Sylt Foundation Residency

• One merit award winner will win a two-month residency at the Sylt Foundation on the Island of Sylt, Germany. The residency includes an apartment on the island.
• This prize includes a return flight to Germany and a monthly stipend.
• The prize must be taken up the year after it is presented
• All entrants are eligible for this prize.
• The date of residency is September to October 2019.

• Merit Award – The Ampersand Foundation Residency

• One merit award winner will win a one-month residency at the Ampersand Foundation in New York City, which includes the use of an apartment.
• The winner of this prize will become a Fellow of the Ampersand Foundation, and will receive an AAM (American Association of Museums) card, which gives the resident free access to most museums in New York City.
• The prize includes a return flight to New York City and a monthly stipend.
• Existing Fellows of the Ampersand Foundation will not qualify for this prize.
• All entrants are eligible for this prize.
• The date of residency is January 2019.

• Gerard Sekoto Award

• The Alliance Française, the Institut Français Afrique du Sud and the French Embassy are sponsoring the Gerard Sekoto Award for the most promising South African artist who is a previous entrant of the competition and has demonstrated continual growth in their work.
• This prize consists of a return flight ticket to Paris, three months’ stay in the Cité Internationale des Arts, nationwide touring exhibitions and training in French. The Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris residencies are made available by SANAVA.
• Candidates will be expected to take cognisance of the terms and conditions of entry.
• The date of residency is May to July 2019.

Eligibility

• The competition is open to all artists who are not younger than 21 and not older than 35 on April 27, 2018. In the case of art students, only students in their final year of study who meet the age requirements may participate.
• All prize winners are required to take up the prize (residency) as per the date mentioned in the entry details.
• Only artists who are citizens or have been granted permanent residency of South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Botswana, Uganda, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Nigeria or Namibia may enter the competition. The prize airfare to Absa Gallery or to a residency award will only be from participating countries.
• If information is not captured accurately on the system and any information is missing from the online registration, the entrant will be automatically disqualified.

Application

Initial adjudication is done on electronic submission where you may upload up to seven (7) images of your artwork. Those artists whose entries make it in through to the next round will be contact directly to arrange for the collection of their artwork.

It is essential when registering online and uploading your artwork that all fields are completed. Failure not to complete all fields will result in your entry been disqualified.