Issue 60 · MONDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2026 · Johannesburg
Artists Among Us · Sector intelligence
Everything moving in South African visual arts, read every day and written for the artist. What the money is, when it closes, and whether it is worth your afternoon.
Reading 33 sources.
© The Guild of St GeorgeFor individuals · Total prizes £9,500 · International
Artists, designers, and makers from anywhere in the world can apply for the John Ruskin Prize, which offers a total of £9,500 in cash prizes. The deadline for submissions is 2026-11-17.
Worth a look · Moderate application
Read the original ↗The John Ruskin Prize
Artists, designers, and makers from anywhere in the world can apply for this prize, which has a total prize fund of £9,500, including a first prize of £3,000. The deadline for submissions is 2026-11-17.
For individuals · Total prizes of £9,500 · International
Closes 17 Nov
International Creations in Performing Arts
Organizations can apply for funding to create joint performances that involve collaboration with Japanese artists. The deadline for applications is 2026-12-01.
For individuals and organisations · International
Closes 01 Dec
Grant Program for Dispatching Artists and Cultural Specialists
Artists and cultural specialists can apply for funding to help cover expenses while representing Japanese arts and culture abroad. The application closes on 2026-12-01, and applicants must apply via the online portal.
For individuals and organisations · International
Closes 01 Dec
Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition 2026
The Sasol New Signatures competition is open to emerging South African visual artists. It annually showcases finalist artworks, with the next exhibition running from 10 September to 8 November 2026. No information is provided regarding the application process or timeline for future entries at this time.
For individuals · South Africa
Deadline not stated
Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Open Call Grant Funding Applications
South Africans can apply for grants through the Mzansi Golden Economy Programme to fund cultural and creative initiatives. The deadline for applications is not stated, and specific funding amounts are also not detailed.
For individuals and organisations · South Africa
Deadline not stated
Strategic Partnerships Funding Round
This funding round is open to South African artists and arts organisations that can propose partnerships in their projects. The specific amounts and deadlines are not stated.
For individuals and organisations · South Africa
Deadline not stated
Call for Applications: Visual Arts Lot 2 - Grants for Collaborative Research and Critical Discourse
Teams working across visual arts can apply for grants to support research and discourse, with the funding amount being up to €4K. The deadline is not stated.
For individuals and organisations · €4K · International
Deadline not stated
Open Call: City Lights Short Film Fund 2026
This funding could help you kickstart a short film project, offering the opportunity to showcase your storytelling skills.
R53 000
Deadline not stated
Création Africa
This can be a valuable resource for artists looking to engage in cross-cultural collaborations.
For individuals and organisations · Southern Africa
Deadline not stated
Collaborate
Artists can gain valuable experience and exposure through collaborative projects.
For organisations · Africa
Deadline not stated
© InterArts FundingFor individuals · Total prizes of £9,500 · International
What this means for you
Artists, designers, and makers from anywhere in the world can apply for this prize, which has a total prize fund of £9,500, including a first prize of £3,000. The deadline for submissions is 2026-11-17.
Worth a look · Moderate application
For individuals and organisations · International
What this means for you
Organizations can apply for funding to create joint performances that involve collaboration with Japanese artists. The deadline for applications is 2026-12-01.
Worth a look · Moderate application
For individuals and organisations · International
What this means for you
Artists and cultural specialists can apply for funding to help cover expenses while representing Japanese arts and culture abroad. The application closes on 2026-12-01, and applicants must apply via the online portal.
Worth a look · Moderate application
© Sasol New SignaturesFor individuals · South Africa
What this means for you
The Sasol New Signatures competition is open to emerging South African visual artists. It annually showcases finalist artworks, with the next exhibition running from 10 September to 8 November 2026. No information is provided regarding the application process or timeline for future entries at this time.
Worth a look
For individuals and organisations · South Africa
What this means for you
South Africans can apply for grants through the Mzansi Golden Economy Programme to fund cultural and creative initiatives. The deadline for applications is not stated, and specific funding amounts are also not detailed.
Worth a look · Moderate application
For individuals and organisations · South Africa
What this means for you
This funding round is open to South African artists and arts organisations that can propose partnerships in their projects. The specific amounts and deadlines are not stated.
Worth a look · Moderate application
© InterArts FundingFor individuals and organisations · €4K · International
What this means for you
Teams working across visual arts can apply for grants to support research and discourse, with the funding amount being up to €4K. The deadline is not stated.
Worth a look · Moderate application
© InterArts FundingR53 000
What this means for you
This funding could help you kickstart a short film project, offering the opportunity to showcase your storytelling skills.
For individuals and organisations · Southern Africa
What this means for you
This can be a valuable resource for artists looking to engage in cross-cultural collaborations.
Worth a look · Moderate application
© Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art AfricaFor organisations · Africa
What this means for you
Artists can gain valuable experience and exposure through collaborative projects.
Organisation only · Light application
© Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art AfricaWestern Cape
What this means for you
The page outlines an exhibition that is open to the public from December 15, 2023, to April 12, 2026. It does not specify an open call for submissions or applications for participation.
What this means for you
Being aware of events like the Lumière Summit can help artists stay connected to global trends and network with international professionals.
What this means for you
Attending this event could provide insights into cross-cultural storytelling through visual art, relevant for your artistic growth.
© Norval FoundationWestern Cape
What this means for you
This event merges art and nature, providing a community space for artists and attendees to connect and find inspiration.
© Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art AfricaWestern Cape
What this means for you
A longer exhibition run affords the opportunity for deeper exploration and discourse over time.
What this means for you
Understanding advocacy efforts can inform artists about the policies affecting their work and the arts community in South Africa.
We have tracked 59 calls across 33 sources. 13 have a published outcome. 30 have not. The gap is the finding.
How this page is made
We read 33 sources every day (the National Arts Council, the national and all nine provincial arts departments, BASA, the embassies and cultural institutes, and the South African art press) and we write what each one actually means for a working artist. Every summary on this page is written by VACSA. We never republish source text. A filled square marks a statutory or government source, a hollow square an established institution. Where a call closes and an outcome is published, we record it in the ledger.
On the pictures. Each item shows the preview image the source publishes for exactly this purpose, at thumbnail size, credited to that organisation and linked to the original. We show it to report on what is happening in the sector, which is permitted as fair dealing under section 12(1)(c) of the Copyright Act 98 of 1978 provided the source is acknowledged, as it is here. We do not crop, recolour or otherwise alter any photograph, and we claim no ownership of it. If you hold rights in an image and would rather we did not show it, write to info@vacsa.org and we will remove it promptly. VACSA’s own photographs are published in full colour and unaltered, as the artists and photographers who made them intended.
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