iQhiya, Uncovering a discourse centered around the voices of Black women, first eponymous group exhibition and panel discussion, April 2016
ARTREACH
An important mandate for nurturing the arts, development of creativity and talent by the Association for Visual Arts is rooted in its ArtReach programme
Initiated in the late 1980s, the AVA ArtReach fund serves to nurture (South) African talent. Over the years, the ArtReach programme has funded a broad spectrum of artists’ needs, including: art materials, art tuition/workshops, framing, studio rentals, exhibition costs for shows at AVA Gallery and many other art related matters. AVA ArtReach has launched several emerging artists who have gone on to achieve success, notably Maurice Mbikayi, iQhiya and Mandla Vanyaza. Funding for ArtReach has been received from The National Arts Council, The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) and PGWC–DCAS, and since 2016 through the production and auction (by Strauss & Co) of limited edition portfolios. As the fund must be kept alive, donations towards AVA ArtReach are always welcome.
The AVA calls for applications for its ArtReach fund on an annual basis. Calls are published on this website, through the AVA social media channels, and via our newsletter to members and general audiences.
GET INVOLVED
Limited Edition Portfolios
In order to raise funds for ArtReach in-house, the AVA has been producing annual Limited Edition Portfolios - by and for artists. Each year, the portfolio zooms in on a medium of art making. In 2016, AVA's winter production centred on printmaking by means of a combination of exhibitions, workshops and the limited edition portfolio Burr, Print & Purpose. The following year AVA exhibited photographs by the likes of David Goldblatt, Guy Tillim, Pieter Hugo and Mohau Modisakeng for the exhibition and portfolio PhotoFocus 2017. In 2018, six renowned South African and two international comic artists were invited to create original comic panels for the limited-edition portfolio book that formed part of the Com!cs 2018 production.
The first edition of each of the above-mentioned portfolios was auctioned by esteemed auction house Strauss & Co in their live auctions (2016-2018), with all proceeds benefiting AVA ArtReach.
The portfolios are for sale at the AVA Gallery.
