Thanks for your interest in the Artist Alliance Incubation program. Please complete the application form and review our application criteria for more information on the selection process. Good luck! What is the Artist Alliance Programme?Artists Alliance is a movement to elevate emerging artists by providing them with the space and opportunity to turn their talent into marketable skills, profitable businesses, and sustainable careers. How will applicants be selected for the Programme?Applicants will be selected based on the work they have submitted.We will select 1 student for each of the following categories: Illustration, Graphic Design, Fine Art (Sculpture), Animation, Music Producing, videography.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 selection process will be managed by V&A Waterfront’s Artist Alliance team, Creative Nestling, and our mentors. In assessing candidates for the visual arts industry, their selection will be based on various criteria. These include the distinctiveness of their work, the talent and skill displayed in their submitted pieces, their entrepreneurial endeavours, their alignment with the goal of transforming and providing opportunities to new voices in the industry, and the strength of their motivation statement or video.These criterias will be communicated to the final judging panel to select the final 6 cohorts.The judging panel will be made up by 2 industry specialists and participating mentors in the Artist Alliance programme as well as two Artist Alliance representatives and a representative from Creative Nestlings. Judging Criteria:When evaluating creatives, several factors come into play:Talent and Proficiency: Assessing the individual's skill level and expertise in their craft.Motivation/Drive: Evaluating the candidate's passion, ambition, and dedication to their creative pursuits.Demographic Profile (Target Groups): Considering the candidate's understanding of their target audience and their ability to appeal to specific demographic groups.Innovation in Craft & Vision: Recognizing the candidate's ability to push boundaries, think outside the box, and bring a fresh perspective to their creative work.Entrepreneurial Pursuits: Assessing the candidate's entrepreneurial mindset, their ability to create opportunities, and their business acumen in leveraging their creative talents. Artist Alliance Application Guidelines Who can enter?Any person between the ages of 18 and 30 can applyYou must be based in Cape TownYou need to have an entrepreneurial spiritActively pursuing a career or business in the creative industry, full-time or part-time fieldIf you can help us achieve our goal of transformation, we are looking for youPersons must be available to attend a two-month incubation programme from 1 October to 30 November 2023 When can I enter?Entries open on 1 June and will close on 31 July. Other Important Dates:Entries will be reviewed in the months of August and September and 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 2023. How do I apply?Selection for the Artist Alliance programme will focus on the quality and promise of your work and entrepreneurial journey.You will need to submit the following when you apply:Visuals highlighting your work (5 pieces of work).Short motivation as to why you are best suited to benefit from the Artist Alliance Programme.Include your ‘Artist Bio’.How you have pursued your entrepreneurial journey. Where do I apply?You can apply directly on the V&A Waterfront 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 Monday to Wednesday [AV4] during the month of July 2023. Timeline 1 June Applications officially open Applications can be made via V&A Waterfront website, or by physically going to the Waterfront office for support and access to the internet (Tuesday to Thursday, between 12 and 2pm. Booking essential) 31 July Applications close 1 – 11 August Shortlist top 42 applicants (V&A Waterfront Artist Alliance, Creative Nestlings, Mentors) 15 – 18 August Top 42 invite to selection soiree meet and connect with mentors and panel Shortlist to top 30 creatives and unsuccessful candidates informed 28 August – 1 September Judging Panel conducts interviews with top 30 candidates Shortlist to 18 creatives 4 – 9 September Judging panel to shortlist down to the final 6 11 – 15 September Selected students and unsuccessful students are informed 28 September Final cohort announced publicly October Course starts first week in October 2023 FAQs What is the aim of the Artist Alliance programme? 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. Who should enter? 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 Where will I be able to apply? 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 When do applications open and close? Applications will be open from 1 June until 31 July 2023. How do I apply? 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) Do I have to be an established artist? You do not need to be an established artist, however, you need to have started a business or generating an income through your creative skill. You will need to submit a portfolio of work (minimum and maximum of 5 works in your respective field that you have completed for clients Can I be a multidisciplinary artist? We welcome all those defining their own artistic journey and merging a variety of visual languages. However, you need to select a ‘major’ discipline so that we can pair you with a mentor in a relevant field. Can I apply if I know one of the mentors or someone on the judging panel personally? Yes, as long as the conflict of interest is acknowledged up front. How can I highlight entrepreneurial journey through my motivational statement? You can show us how you have taken initiative using any examples of how you have tried to take your art to the next level. Tell us about the journey you are on and where you hope that journey will take you. If you have examples of collaborations with other creatives or brands, exhibitions, commissions, or any other ways where you have taken your work a step further or how you market yourself on social media. How will applicants be judged and selected? 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. What happens if I am shortlisted? 42 candidates will be shortlisted and contacted. The same judging panel, who choose the final winners will be involved in selecting the top 42 and the same criteria will be used. The 42 candidates will be invited to a soiree to meet the Artist Alliance team, mentors, and peers. When will successful applicants be announced or contacted? 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 What happens if I am not in Cape Town for the full duration of the programme? We want to ideally select a cohort of people who are in close proximity to the V&A Waterfront, in order to further benefit from the support to take their business/ art or craft to the next level. Therefore, entrants need to live in Cape Town to ultimately benefit from the programme and what comes thereafter. The programme will have a mix of online and in-person meet ups Do I need a computer and fast internet to attend the programme? We do expect our applicants to own a computer to be able to attend online classes as a prerequisite to enter. V&A Waterfront will offer data to support students who are in need.
