International opportunities for artists

Last edited: November 18, 2009

Posted by Business and Arts South Africa

Sylt Foundation offers South African visual artists, writers and performers exciting residency opportunities on the island of Sylt, Northern Germany.

This international multi-disciplinary cultural institution also initiates projects through its Johannesburg based jozi art: lab.

The Sylt Foundation’s vision is informed by the Quelle – a source. A spring water bottling plant is situated at the Foundation’s headquarters on Sylt. This private Foundation, through its two organisations the Kunst:Raum Sylt Quelle, in Rantum on Sylt, in the North Sea and the Johannesburg based jozi art:lab, is under the directorship of literary scholar, curator and patron Indra Wussow.

Wussow says, “The Kunst:Raum Sylt Quelle is for artists interested in multiple areas of interaction and co-operation. The Kunst:Raum Sylt Quelle Foundation is intended as a place of beginnings: of ideas, of creative projects initiated throughout the year.”

Every year 60 international writers, artists and performers take up a two month residency at the Kunst:Raum Sylt Quelle, where they are given excellent studio accommodation, a stipend, administrative and logistical support. The residency opportunity provides a creative free time for artists, writers and performers to pursue their projects, initiate new career opportunities and experience stimulating cultural interaction through sharing their artistic experiences with other artists in residence.

The Sylt Foundation has a particular focus on inviting artists from Sub-Saharan Africa. Luminaries such as South African Antjie Krog, Bernie Searle, Santu Mofokeng, Andre Brink and Zwelethu Mthethwa as well as German Nobel Prize winner Herta Meuller, to name a few, have all benefited from a residency at the Foundation.

The Sylt Foundation’s South African branch in Johannesburg is the jozi art:lab. This cultural organisation facilitates regular exchanges between South African artists and those from Europe. It encourages the setting up of cultural projects with local artists, actors, musicians and writers and brings to Johannesburg artists on a month long residency. Amongst many others who have shared their experience and creativity with their South African counterparts are Tim Staffel (playwright and writer), Achim Mohné (visual concept art).

Jozi art:lab has co-ordinated projects in Kliptown, Soweto and in the Johannesburg CBD. A recent one being Guard on Shift public art project directed by Xoli Norman and artist/performer Sue Pam Grant.

For a number of years jozi art: lab has collaborated on projects with the Goethe Institute and offers the Sylt Quelle Cultural Award for Southern Africa in association with The Institute.

The Sylt Foundation through providing cultural exchanges has added significantly to the rich artistic conversation of the South African cultural sector.

For more information contact:

Sindi Ziqula (Mon – Thurs 9 – 1:30pm) on 011 447 2855 or click .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to send an e-mail. Alternatively, please contact Les Cohn on 082 395 7471 or click .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to send an e-mail.