Artists Alliance aims to elevate emerging artists by providing them with the space and opportunity to turn their talent into marketable skills, profitable businesses, and sustainable careers.

Any artists between the ages of 18 and 30, who are based in Cape Town, have an entrepreneurial spirit and are on the cusp of their own career or creative business in the field of Visual Arts, including: Illustration, Graphic Design, Fine Art (Sculpture), Animation, Music Producing, videography

You can apply directly on the Artist Alliance website. If you do not have access to an internet connection you can visit the V&A Hub, Merchant House, Dock Road between 12:00 and 14:00 on a Tuesday to Thursday. Booking essential via artistalliance@waterfront.co.za

Applications will be open from 1 June until 31 July 2023.

You will need to submit a portfolio (visuals highlighting your work), with 5 artworks, a short motivation as to why you should be given this opportunity and an artist biography, to the specified application links (TBC)

No, the programme is designed to elevate young and emerging artists and turn talent into marketable skills.

Yes, while we select one artist per category, we welcome applications from those with skills across different creative fields. Your strongest creative work in one of the listed categories should be the focus of your application.

To ensure fairness and an unbiased selection process, it is recommended that you disclose any personal connections with mentors or judging panel members in your application. This will allow for appropriate measures to be taken to maintain impartiality.

Beyond the specific section for your entrepreneurial journey, use your motivational statement to articulate your business aspirations, how you've already attempted to commercialise your art, your understanding of the market, and how the incubation programme will directly support your business goals.

Applicants will be selected based on the work they have submitted. We will select 1 student for each of the following categories: Illustration, Fine Art, Videography, Music Producing, Animation and Graphic Design. In the selection process, the quality and collective presentation of your creative work, along with the motivation and demonstration of your entrepreneurial endeavours, will hold significant importance. The shortlisting process to select the initial top 42 candidates will be managed by the Artist Alliance, Creative Nestlings and Mentors. Candidates will be judged on the uniqueness of their work, talent, and proficiency of the submitted pieces, whether they fit the profile to help transform and give an opportunity to new voices in the visual arts industry, their entrepreneurial pursuits and lastly candidates will be judged based on the strength of their motivation statement or video.

42 candidates will be shortlisted and contacted. These candidates will be invited to a soiree to meet the Artist Alliance team, mentors, and peers. From this group, 30 will be invited for interviews before the final 6 are selected.

A cohort of 6 people will be selected by a panel of judges consisting of representatives from the Artist Alliance, Creative Nestlings and selected industry experts and publicly announced on 28 September. The programme will start in the first week of October 2023 and run for two months until 30 November

Applicants must be based in Cape Town and available to attend the full two-month incubation programme from October 1st to November 30th, 2023. Non-attendance for the full duration may result in disqualification.

Yes, candidates must have access to the internet to utilize some programme materials and resources. Furthermore, it is essential that candidates possess the necessary equipment to complete assignments and projects relevant to their chosen category (e.g., a photographer must have a camera, a graphic designer must have appropriate equipment and software to create designs, etc.). The V&A Waterfront will assist with internet connectivity to applicants who need, this will be communicated to successful applicants.