Absa Group L'Atelier Competition 2026

The Absa L’Atelier Competition is now accepting applications for 2026. This prestigious competition focuses on supporting artists in growing their brand, equipping them with relevant skills, and providing opportunities to build networks and collaborate within the visual arts industry.

🖌️ About Absa Group L'Atelier Competition

The Absa L’Atelier competition is designed to empower artists by:

• Supporting their career growth through skill-building.
• Offering networking and collaboration opportunities.
• Providing a unique platform to position themselves within the visual arts industry.

🎁 Benefits of Absa Group L'Atelier Competition

Main Prize

The main prize is awarded to three Absa L’Atelier Ambassadors and includes:

• A new laptop or equivalent with Windows and MS Office installed.
• 11 two-hour masterclasses (virtual or in-person) from May to July 2027, covering:
  • Mental wellness: Understanding and managing mental health.
  • Financial wellness: Budgeting and managing finances.
  • Legal wellbeing: Importance of contracts, wills, and trusts.
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution.
  • Studio practice.
  • Media training, social media audience development, and public relations.
  • Building and managing an art portfolio.
  • Fundraising and proposal writing.
  • Art professionalism: Career development and brand building.
  • Artist residencies and their benefits.
  • Non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
• Four-month mentorship with a leading authority in visual arts (June–September 2027).
• Two-month international residency at the Kromdraai Impact Hub in South Africa (11 May–11 July 2027), including:
  • Introduction to South Africa’s art and cultural scene.
  • Option to produce an NFT artwork.
  • Creation of a limited body of artworks for a pop-up exhibition.
• Solo exhibition within two years of winning (by 2028), with up to R100,000 for material costs. The exhibition will take place in the artist’s home country or at the Absa Gallery.

Gerard Sekoto Award

This award is open to South African artists aged 25–35 years and includes:

• Three-month residency (April–June 2027) at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France, with:
  • Return airfare from South Africa to Paris.
  • Daily stipend while in Paris.
  • Return transport between the artist’s residence and the airport.
• Solo exhibition in Johannesburg in 2028, with up to R100,000 for material and framing costs.
• Three virtual masterclasses covering:
  • Mental wellness.
  • Financial wellness.
  • Legal wellbeing.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To participate in the competition, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be aged 21–40 years as of 31 March 2026. Final-year art students meeting the age requirement are also eligible.
• Be a citizen or permanent resident of South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Botswana, Uganda, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Nigeria, or Namibia.
• Prize winners must take up the prize as per the specified dates.
• Airfares for exhibitions or residencies are covered only from the artist’s home country. Travel from other locations will require the artist to cover additional costs.
• Ensure accurate and complete information during online registration. Missing information will result in disqualification.

📅 Application Date and Process

• Deadline: 31 May 2026
• To apply, visit the official application website.

🌟 Contact Information

For more details, visit the official Absa Group L'Atelier Competition website.

• Main prize includes a laptop, 11 masterclasses, and a four-month mentorship starting June 2027.
• International residency in South Africa in 2027.
• Option to host a solo exhibition by 2028 with funding up to R100,000.
• Gerard Sekoto Award offers a three-month residency in Paris and a solo exhibition in Johannesburg in 2028.