By visual artists. For visual artists. For South Africa.
Artists Among Us
Provincial workshops under the Artists Among Us banner
The Five Meanings
“Artists Among Us” is not just a slogan. It evolved from VACSA’s answer to a real problem: if we only talk about ourselves, we become another committee talking to itself. If we consistently surface actual artists, actual practices, and actual lived realities, we become useful, visible, and trusted.
01
A VISIBILITY DOCTRINE
We spotlight visual artists more than ourselves. A "we see you" approach rather than a bureaucratic one.
02
A TRUST-BUILDING MECHANISM
We must be present at openings, events, and community spaces — experienced as a friend and advocate, not a distant structure.
03
A NARRATIVE CORRECTION
We push back against artist invisibility and the pattern where institutions speak about visual artists without humanising them.
04
A CONTENT ENGINE
Provincial workshops are not just for data extraction — they generate artist-centred stories, interviews, profiles, imagery, and media.
05
A BRIDGE TO OPPORTUNITY
Platform, advocacy, information, education, and stronger routes into markets, partnerships, and exposure.
The Artist Development Spectrum
01
FOUNDATION
The Discovery Stage
Learners, hobbyists, emerging creatives taking their first steps.
VACSA offers
Visibility, community connection, learning resources.
02
EMERGING
Concept Development
Growing confidence, developing artistic identity and voice.
VACSA offers
Mentorship matching, exhibition opportunities, skills workshops.
03
ESTABLISHED
Technical & Market Integration
Professional consolidation, market entry, institutional recognition.
VACSA offers
Gallery connections, portfolio development, grant access.
04
PRACTISING
Sustainable Career
Full-time creative practice, commercial sustainability.
VACSA offers
Market access, international exposure, business support.
05
PROFESSIONAL
Leadership & Legacy
National and international recognition, sector leadership.
VACSA offers
Potential pathways to international exposure, mentorship roles, policy voice.
Community engagement sessions
The Honest Truth
“Artists Among Us has been accomplished most strongly as a strategic concept, a communications philosophy, and an implementation framework. It has not yet been evidenced as a completed, scaled, publicly documented campaign.”
Foundational rather than final.
Every artist in South Africa deserves to be seen, supported, and connected. VACSA exists to make that real.
Join the Constituency Mapping
Join the growing national constituency mapping programme. Add your voice to the national picture.
Join the Mapping