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Emerging Painting Invitational - Pan-African Emerging Painting Prize

The Emerging Painting Invitational is a nomadic Africa painting prize, developed by the African Art Galleries Association to support emerging contemporary painting and painters in Africa and to bring attention to new centers of art on the continent.
 
The prize is supported by an exhibition of the 15-20 finalists, and international art weekend for industry professionals and collectors, a full colour catalogue, content rich website and an extensive PR and marketing programme.
 
The inaugural edition of the prize took place in Harare from 26-28 July, 2019 and was hosted in Harare at First Floor Gallery Harare, with future editions planned for  Luanda, Kampala and beyond.
 
Background and context
 
History of art is written by painting far more than by any other art form. While in the West, painting today is treated as a conservative medium, elsewhere, including Africa painting is a space with powerful opportunities for expression of self-determination, story-telling and innovation.
 
While interest in African contemporary art has been rising internationally, developing successful painting practices has been a challenge for emerging artists on the continent. Materials are in short supply as is the educational infrastructure and expertise. Despite that, there is a depth of talent and a passion for painting among emerging artists on the continent eager to tell their stories, reach local and international audiences and also to take their place in global story of art.
 
This goal is significant not just ideologically but also economically, since 70% of all artworks sold internationally are in fact paintings. So support for painting on the continent is essential for achievement of economic sustainability for local art sectors.
 
The Painting Invitational is designed to actively address the challenges experienced by emerging painters on the continent and to accelerate growth as follows:

  • The prize aims to create standards for excellence, with renowned industry professionals nominating and selecting the finalists and renowned practitioners selecting the winners;

  • The prize is an acquisitive prize with works going into important international art collections, raising the visibility and critical recognition for the winner.

  • The residency prizes are designed to support skill development and access to quality resources for the winners.

  • The exhibition and art weekend will draw serious international stakeholders who are able to support the development of the careers of the participating artists and provide important networking opportunities for participating Africa based galleries.

  • The international profile for the exhibition is also an important opportunity to engage local audiences and support, furthering the goal of developing local collector base and market for contemporary artists on the continent.

  • Through the international PR and Marketing campaign, the prize will attract international attention and collector engagement, well beyond exhibition visitors.

  • Finally, the prize catalogue featuring works in the exhibition, artist bios and scholarly texts, will create an important reference tool for collectors, art writers and historians of contemporary African art.
 
Prize Nominating Committee:

Daudi Karugi, Afriart Gallery,  Kampala
Julie Taylor, Guns and Rain, Johannesburg
Elia Gemuce, Arte de Gema, Maputo, Mozambique
Marc Stanes, Ebony Curate, Cape Town
Oliver Enwonwu, Omenka Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria
Dominick Maia, Espace Luanda Arte, Luanda
Valerie Kabov, First Floor Gallery Harare, Harare
Lanre Fisher, Artyrama, Lagos, Nigeria
Bouvy Enkobo, Kinshasa, DRC
Jonathan Freemantle, Hazard Gallery, Johannesburg
MJ Turpin, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg
Sonia Ribero, This is not a white cube, Luanda
Robel Temesgen, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Janire Bilbao, Mov'art, Luanda