The South African Pavilion has launched an inspiring schools art competition that builds on Quiet Ground – the theme of South Africa’s national presentation at the 2024 Venice Biennale. This initiative invites Matric-level visual art students to engage with these resonant themes through their own creative lens.
The theme: Quiet Ground
Drawing inspiration from the South African Pavilion’s 2024 Venice Biennale exhibition, the competition invites young artists to explore their relationship with heritage, land and tradition in contemporary society. This creates an opportunity for fresh perspectives from our next generation of creative voices.
Competition details
Key dates:
Submissions open: Now
Deadline: 14 February 2025, 17:00
Exhibition: March 2025 at Keyes Art Mile, Johannesburg
Submission requirements:
Artwork must engage with the Quiet Ground theme
All artistic mediums welcome
Include an artist statement (300 words maximum)
Submit high-resolution images (maximum 10MB) via the online submission form
A platform for emerging talent
The competition culminates in an exhibition at Keyes Art Mile in Johannesburg, the venue sponsor, where the winning works will be unveiled. This showcase represents an important opportunity for young South African artists to contribute to our national artistic dialogue and engage with significant contemporary themes.
How to enter
Interested students should:
- Visit www.sapavilion.co.za for detailed theme information
- Create artwork responding to Quiet Ground
- Prepare a concise artist statement
- Submit via the online form by the deadline
For additional information or queries, contact tikgama@icloud.com
Follow @sa_pavilion on social media for competition updates and insights.
This initiative builds on the South African Pavilion’s 2024 Venice Biennale exhibition theme, supporting the development of young artistic talent while fostering meaningful engagement with contemporary themes in South African art.
