What is ArtReach?

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 Igshaan Adams. 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. Donate now via EFT, card or Snapscan

What does ArtReach fund?

ArtReach funding supports a diversity of applicants with small-scale funding in order to achieve artists’ goals.

ArtReach funding covers the following

Exhibition production costs (incl. gallery rental) for an exhibition at the AVA provided your application for an exhibition has been successful
Studio rental to a maximum of 6 months (with AVA partner institutions)
Materials for the production of artwork
Mentorship (of art production, exhibition production etc)
Marketing support (in-house or with AVA partner institutions)

How do I apply?

Get involved

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. To sign up to our mailing list, click here or sign up as a member here.

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. A Cut Above, containing lino-cut prints by seven different artists, was published in 2019.

The first edition of each of the above-mentioned portfolios was auctioned by esteemed auction house Strauss & Co in their live auctions (2016-2019), with all proceeds benefiting AVA ArtReach.