INCCA is pleased to announce the second edition of Art After Baby (AAB), which is again supported by the National Arts Council South Africa (NAC) Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP 5). Two successful artists will be selected to receive a living wage for two months, as well as their own solo exhibitions at Victoria Yards in Johannesburg in early 2025, mentorship and online promotion of their work through dedicated text.
We are excited to put out an open call and invite visual artists based in Gauteng, South Africa to apply. We are appealing specifically to those who are trying to juggle art-making with motherhood, caregiving or have been impacted by loss. This is one of the few projects in the province that acknowledges that artists are often “zero-hour workers” with a sporadic and unreliable income, and that many women carry the responsibility of being primary caregivers without the financial cushion to continue their practice. We also acknowledge that, whether they are parents/caregivers or not, countless women in particular are impacted by pregnancy, loss, and associated complications, and that this can have a deep effect on their ability to work.
Due to the grant window’s limited timeline – in which the project must be complete by 31 March 2025 – we are looking for artists who have a distinct body of work in progress, and are seeking support in order to complete and exhibit it.
We are excited to put out an open call and invite visual artists based in Gauteng, South Africa to apply. We are appealing specifically to those who are trying to juggle art-making with motherhood, caregiving or have been impacted by loss. This is one of the few projects in the province that acknowledges that artists are often “zero-hour workers” with a sporadic and unreliable income, and that many women carry the responsibility of being primary caregivers without the financial cushion to continue their practice. We also acknowledge that, whether they are parents/caregivers or not, countless women in particular are impacted by pregnancy, loss, and associated complications, and that this can have a deep effect on their ability to work.
Due to the grant window’s limited timeline – in which the project must be complete by 31 March 2025 – we are looking for artists who have a distinct body of work in progress, and are seeking support in order to complete and exhibit it.
We hope to establish routes for others in similar positions.
The overall aim of AAB is to confront what remains a taboo subject, and to find pathways for the accepted applicants to participate in an industry often still dominated by men and/or privilege, and also to explore how art-making itself can be a cathartic salve for the many challenges of motherhood, caregiving and/or trauma and loss. We aim to establish an ongoing programme that provides artists with a short period of breathing room to focus on their work, and motivates those who are battling to juggle a career in the arts to find spaces and avenues to continue producing. In addition, we hope to establish routes and approaches for others in similar positions.
This project is heavily influenced by the research and work of British writer Hettie Judah, who interviewed around 60 artist mothers about their experiences in 2021, resulting in a manifesto, and ultimately a book titled How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and other parents). It presents a solutions-based approach on the subject, looking at benchmarks all over the world. Ultimately, Judah suggests that what the art industry risks by not taking intersectional contexts into consideration is remaining more homogenous, precluding “participation by all but the wealthy and carefree”.
To apply, please fill out this form by 22 November 2024, but please pay close attention to eligibility requirements below.
To apply, please fill out this form by 22 November 2024, but please pay close attention to eligibility requirements below.
Who can apply?
This is a project concerned with one of the many intersectional issues within the arts industry, with a focus specifically on visual artists and motherhood, caregiving, pregnancy and/or loss. To apply:
This is a project concerned with one of the many intersectional issues within the arts industry, with a focus specifically on visual artists and motherhood, caregiving, pregnancy and/or loss. To apply:
- You need to be a visual artist AND mother, caregiver and/or have been impacted by pregnancy or associated complications or loss. Please note that you do not necessarily need to identify as a woman or a mother to apply, but we will be focussed primarily on motherhood – recognising that the responsibility for childcare currently falls overwhelmingly on mothers and women – and/or those impacted by pregnancy and associated issues.
- You need to be based in Gauteng, South Africa. We are limited to the area in which we are based and to which the grant was awarded.
- You need to be a visual artist working in any medium, who has created a body/bodies of work that can be illustrated in a digital portfolio in the form of a PDF, supplemented by a written artist statement. We are appealing to those who are dedicated to pursuing a career in visual art and have previously made work, but are struggling to juggle this with the challenges of motherhood, parenting, pregnancy or loss. Unfortunately we are not appealing to those who would like to start a career in the arts. Applying artists need to have previously made work, but do not need to be formally trained or have exhibited extensively. We will be considering the quality of work previously/currently being made, not your experience or age.
- We will aim to give preference to visual artists who are freelance, independent or zero-hour workers (ie. you only receive casual work); are in financial need, as well as single mothers. (Please note that we have altered the criteria here, as we have come to understand that many artists are working in full time positions – that do not support their artistic production – out of necessity).
- You should have a body of work in progress that you have started and need to complete and/or exhibition ready work that you have not had the opportunity to show.
- You DO NOT need to make work on the subject of motherhood. We are looking to support those affected by, not necessarily focussed on the subject of motherhood. We will consider work by artists covering any and all subjects and will judge the work based on its conceptual and formal strength and quality.
How to apply
Fill out this form and provide all required information, which includes an illustrated digital portfolio in the form of a PDF, supplemented by a written artist statement. Submissions via email or any other form will not be accepted. We will not accept any physical portfolios.
How will the artists be selected?
The applications will be judged by arts professionals, based on the quality of the work as well as the eligibility of the applicant. We will select two artists for this edition, who will have the opportunity to have their own solo exhibition each in a dedicated space at Victoria Yards, Johannebsurg. We will give preference to those who are nearing the end process of completing work/have complete work, but are seeking support/space to exhibit it.
What will the two selected artists receive?
Fill out this form and provide all required information, which includes an illustrated digital portfolio in the form of a PDF, supplemented by a written artist statement. Submissions via email or any other form will not be accepted. We will not accept any physical portfolios.
How will the artists be selected?
The applications will be judged by arts professionals, based on the quality of the work as well as the eligibility of the applicant. We will select two artists for this edition, who will have the opportunity to have their own solo exhibition each in a dedicated space at Victoria Yards, Johannebsurg. We will give preference to those who are nearing the end process of completing work/have complete work, but are seeking support/space to exhibit it.
What will the two selected artists receive?
- You will each receive R20,000 in three tranches over the course of two months to help you finish work that will form part of a solo exhibition. We will request that selected artists be pragmatic and consider how this budget can be most economically spent based on the project requirements and your needs.
- You will receive dedicated studio visits by mentors who will guide you in completing a body of work and the process of putting together an exhibition.
- Your work will be presented as part of a solo exhibition that will take place in a dedicated space of approx 50-60m2 at Victoria Yards in Johannesburg in either February or March 2025 (with each exhibition opening on the Victoria Yards’ First Sunday event). INCCA will manage all marketing, installation, general admin of the space and endeavor to sell the work on display. You will receive a consignment agreement and a fair, industry standard percentage on the sale of any work. All work not sold at the end of the exhibition will be returned to you.
- A writer will be employed by INCCA to interview you on your practice with a resulting editorial or Q&A to be featured on our website.
- INCCA will endeavor to create a network for future opportunities and offer mentorship wherever possible.
Explore Previous AAB projects and texts below