Taking place from 17 February – 6 March 2016 in a much bigger venue at The Palms Decor & Lifestyle Centre in Woodstock, Cape Town, THAT ART FAIR is calling for artists’ applications from across Africa and the diaspora for the 2016 edition of the “counter cultural event of the season!”
Images from THAT ART FAIR 2015, which took place in a multi-level parking garage in Salt River, Cape TownTHAT ART FAIR is an inspired, curated art fair event initiated by ART AFRICA magazine. With a specific focus on contemporary artists from Africa and the diaspora, THAT ART FAIR addresses the needs of artists living and working on the continent – and further afield – by providing a platform where they can showcase their work in a relaxed but professional environment and be seen by curators, collectors, galleries and new audiences.
We have adapted the traditional model of the ‘art fair’ to offer unrepresented and emerging artists an opportunity to benefit from this professional stage, by providing them with the necessary resources to help them to achieve recognition and success. THAT ART FAIR specifically encourages an open, inviting and friendly environment where a new generation of art audience (and ultimately collectors) can meet with the artists directly and be introduced to their work.
THAT ART FAIR hails the artist as hero! At THAT ART FAIR, artists are encouraged to engage with their audiences, network with artists from across the continent, gain exposure to new markets and sell up a storm!
As an initiative of ART AFRICA, THAT ART FAIR is committed to fostering a spirit of creativity, sustainability and positive change in the contemporary African art world.
The inaugural event was held from 27 February – 1 March 2015 in a multi-level parking garage in Salt River, at the edge of the Woodstock creative district in Cape Town. Over 20 major sponsors lined up to support us in featuring the work of more than 150 artists from 8 African countries, with established galleries, artist collectives and individual artists presented alongside one another.
This is what the media had to say about THAT ART FAIR 2015:
- “Unashamedly grungy… presenting the early days of an authentic underground” – Nadine Botha, Financial Times, NY
- “The counter cultural event of the season … the necessary counterpoint to the CTAF’s (Cape Town Art Fair) giddy cocktail of sea, sun, champagne, and art” – Ashraf Jamal, Sunday Times
- “I am not the only one who feels a certain energy about the space; in his opening speech Albie Sachs, the apartheid activist and former judge on the Constitutional Court of South Africa, aptly point[ed] out ‘This is a terrific space… It’s just a space. This space is so bare, and yet so central…’” – Nicola van Straaten, Another Africa
- “An innovative, artist- focused event that will serve as cheeky alternative to gallery- driven expositions” – African Design Magazine
- “Far from any type of static art event, and this year there’s been a dedicated live art programme included to create subtle playful interventions…” – ONE SMALL SEED
To see more and hear what the participating artists had to say, visit our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ThatArtFair
THAT ART FAIR 2016
The 2016 edition of THAT ART FAIR, taking place from 18 February – 20 March 2016, has expanded its programme to include a month-long lineup of exhibitions and events. THAT Art Party, that official fair celebration is set to take place in the opening week of the fair. Last year’s much talked about party saw a line up of such luminaries of the art and music world as The Brother Moves On, Spoek Mathambo, Thor Rixon, Champions of the Sonarverse, Skattie DJ Athi Patra Ruga and the Cape Town premiere screening of the internationally acclaimed documentary, Shield and Spear.
Popping up in a much larger space at The Palms Centre in Woodstock, Cape Town, THAT ART FAIR 2016 will partner with a growing list of international institutions from Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria – with more to follow!
THAT ART FAIR 2016 will encompass a wide range of disciplines and featured events (including but not limited to):
VISUAL ART: A wide range of painters, sculptors, photographers and printmakers will be participating both independently and as represented by galleries.
PERFORMANCE ART: A month-long programme of local & international performance art
FUTURE MASTERS: A curated exhibition to showcase mid-career artists, serving to bridge the divide between the older, established market and the new emerging markets.
COMIC ART (Brought to you by ComicArtAfrica)
PHOTOGRAPHY: A curated element brought to you by Snapped magazine; a space for photographers and galleries to exhibit independently
FILM & VIDEO: Curated line-up of multimedia work from documentaries to art films, animation & shorts
FASHION & CULTURE: SKATTIE will showcase their unique brand, an effortless cross-over between fashion, art and culture
URBAN ART: Mural and graffiti artists will be invited to exhibit examples of their work, as well as take part in live art events
ART FOR CHANGE: Art with a particular focus on environmental and social change
DESIGN & ART: Leading typographical muralists, designers, illustrators and artists will explore the crossover between design & art
ART SuperMART: THAT ART FAIR’s dedicated pop-up shop will sell the work of numerous creative practitioners, from multiples, books and zines to t-shirts, jewellery & merchandise
WORKSHOPS & TALKS PROGRAMME: Educational and topical programmes curated for emerging and established creative practitioners & the public
A selection committee, comprising some of the most respected figures in the art world, will ensure that work selected fits the exhibition criteria and curatorial approach. Over the four-week period, exhibitors will rotate so there will literally be fresh art on exhibition weekly!
Applications and submissions for participation at THAT ART FAIR 2016 are now open! THAT ART FAIR is for unrepresented artists and artists’ collectives, as well as galleries and institutions that wish to submit their artists for consideration and participation.
THAT ART FAIR applications and submissions close on 13 November 2015. Don’t miss your opportunity to participate in one of the most exciting art events next year!
To request an application form, and to enquire about the application guidelines, email us on thatartfair@artafricamagazine.com or click here to download the form for Individual Artists & Collectives, and here for the Galleries form.
Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter (@ThatArtFair) and on Instagram using the hashtag #THATARTFAIR2016 to stay in the know! Official programme, map, and artist line-up still to come.
THAT ART FAIR is brought to you by ART AFRICA magazine in partnership with Manic Global, Auriti Fine Art Advisory, MOAD (Museum of African Design) and THAT_COLLECTIVE.
All media queries:
Leigh Bassingthwaighte
Urgent Queries: +27(0)84 423 6017
All sponsorship and partnership queries:
Suzette Bell-Roberts
Urgent queries: +27 (83) 261 3147
For proposals and submission queries:
