CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The KZNSA is accepting applications from artists and writers for our 2025 chapter of the Young Artists’ Project.

KZNSA gallery is hosting two Young Artist Project exhibitions in 2025 aimed at providing support to early career artists, and training to aspiring critical writers.

Background to the project – YAP commissions new work, providing young artists with financial and curatorial support, and the space to realize a first solo project. The KZNSA Young Artist Project (YAP) was conceived in 2002 as an institutional platform for experimental art practice in the city of Durban. From 2002 to 2007, KZNSA YAP made it possible for 16 young artists to mount their first solos, and in 2020 8 young artists took part in YAP.

In 2025, YAP will host exhibitions by 2 young artists working in their mediums of choice, and using the space to create new and/or site-specific work. The 2025 project will have two 7-week exhibition slots in either the Park Gallery or the Media Gallery at the KZNSA: 4 August – 21 September 2025 and 22 September – 9 November 2025. YAP 2025 also provides mentorship opportunities to 8 aspiring writers with critical writing workshops facilitated by recognized art writers.

ARTISTS
Artists applying need to be 18-35 years and not have had a solo exhibition.
Artist support includes:
• Curatorial direction from a seasoned curator,
• Use of the space at no cost for a 7-week exhibition,
• Installation of work,
• In-house equipment and props,
• Financial support of R18,000.00 towards materials to create work, framing, shipping and/or installation materials,
• Marketing and publicity,
• Colour catalogue of each exhibition with photographs of works, installation views and curatorial essay for each artist.

How to apply:
Submit a one-page CV, a one-page artist’s statement and 5-10 images of existing work to gallery@kznsagallery.co.za
Closing date: Sunday 4 May 2025, 23h59

WRITERS
For each YAP exhibition, there are opportunities for 4 aspiring art writers to work on catalogue texts and receive mentoring in critical writing. KZNSA invites applications to participate in these writing workshops facilitated by recognized art historians and critical writers. A travel allowance is made available for selected participants.
Participants will read texts, do fieldwork and research, and write with constraint exercises as they look at ways to produce critical writing and develop creative criticism. Writing exercises will respond to, and provide critique of, the work on exhibition and content for catalogues of the project.

Through the workshop participants will learn how to:
• Summarize, analyse, question and evaluate written texts and visual exhibitions
• Argue and support a position
• Recognize audience and disciplinary expectations
• Apply proper citation practices
• Apply writing knowledge to other writing occasions
• Identify and use the stages of the writing process
• Identify characteristics of effective writing

How to apply:
Submit a one-page writing sample (1000 words max) to gallery@kznsagallery.co.za
Closing date: Sunday 4 May 2025, 23h59

The KZNSA Young Artists’ Project (YAP) is generously funded by Rand Mutual Assurance.