About

AAGA (African Art Galleries Association) was formed in response to the need to support the growth and sustainability of contemporary art sectors in Africa in the context of rise of international interest in contemporary art on the continent.
 
Gallery system is an important part of ensuring sustainability of local art sectors for several reasons:
 
1. supporting critical and technical artist development as well as artist community development on the continent
2. preventing talent drain, as artists without exhibition opportunities on the continent look to move elsewhere; and
3. working to build and develop local collectors, crucial to ensuring sustainability of local art scenes, diversity of art production and resistance to fluctuation of international art markets
4. ensuring professional treatment of artists by institutions and international counter-parties.
 
Many galleries on the continent face challenges, due to inadequate local government and collector support, shortage of investment capital as well as lack of mentoring and industry know-how.

Objectives

AAGA aims to support art galleries and gallery professionals by providing a synergistic network of collaboration and mutual support with opportunities for:
  • sharing advice and resources;
  • exchange – artists and exhibition touring;
  • resource sharing and leveraging collaboration through joint exhibition projects,
  • joint publications – monographs for artists, exhibition catalogues etc,
  • joint marketing support – shared advertising, collector events etc
  • shared booths at art fairs and any other endeavours aimed at over-coming resource and capital shortages through collaboration;
  • legal support and advocacy galleries and art organisations on the continent;
  • developing a code of professional standards and ethics and mechanisms for mediation;
  • continuing professional development and support for gallery and art management professionals
  • developing a trading block, which can support the members in competing with established international players;

Membership

AAGA membership is open to all art galleries in Africa, with goals of establishing international standard professional practices to represent and develop careers of contemporary and emerging artists on the continent locally and internationally.

Organisational Structure

AAGA aims at a flat organizational structure, with members encouraged to contribute and to develop personal synergistic projects using the membership network and its resources.
 
Membership is open to any qualifying gallery and art professional, who shares AAGA objectives.