Absa L'Atelier 2027
Absa Group (with SANAVA) · Johannesburg, South Africa
Pan-African competition for emerging visual artists aged 21 to 40 from twelve African countries, run by Absa with the South African National Association for the Visual Arts since 1985. Winners receive solo exhibitions, mentorship and a Paris residency.
Your eligibility
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Who can enter
- Location
- Botswana, Ghana, Kenya and 9 more (by residence or nationality)
- Age
- 21 to 40
- Career stage
- Emerging
- Mediums
- Any medium
- Submission
- Online submission
- Also
- Emerging visual artists aged 21 to 40 who are citizens or permanent residents of one of the twelve eligible countries. Criteria may change for 2027.
About
Absa L'Atelier is one of Africa's longest-running art competitions, held since 1985 by Absa Group in partnership with SANAVA. It is open to emerging visual artists aged 21 to 40 who are citizens or permanent residents of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda or Zambia.
Entrants compete in three country groups. Each group's Absa L'Atelier Art Ambassador receives a solo exhibition with R100,000 from Absa towards materials, masterclasses, a laptop and a four-month mentorship. The Gerard Sekoto Award, run with the French Institute of South Africa and the French Embassy, goes to a South African entrant and includes a three-month residency at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris plus a solo exhibition.
The 2026 cycle took entries from 1 April to 31 May 2026 and announced its winners on 10 October 2026 at the Absa L'Atelier Art & Lifestyle Fair in Johannesburg. Entries for 2027 are expected to open in March 2027 and close at the end of April 2027.
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