This is the final instalment of this podcast and we are speaking about making great work. Is there a so-called “secret sauce” that an artist can work to? Or it is more mystical and magical?

We are talking to 2017 Standard Bank Young Artist for Visual Art, Beth Diane Armstrong, and Ashraf Jamal - academic, writer and cultural theorist whose most recent books include In the World: Essays on Contemporary South African Art (published in 2017) and its follow up STRANGE CARGO: Essay's on Art (published in 2022).

We would like to thank the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for supporting this project https://www.freiheit.org

as well as Quorum Holdings for their ongoing support of the META Foundation - https://www.qholdings.co.za For images of the artworks & links to purchase Ashraf Jamal's books · META Foundation on Facebook · META Foundation on Twitter · META Foundation on Instagram · Connect with META Foundation on LinkedIn

This episode is centred around working with a gallery and planning an exhibition. We speak to guests Julie Taylor, from Guns and Rain, and Vivien Kohler, an artist, about reaching out to galleries; the inner workings of galleries; making sales; preparing for an exhibition; and using all the opportunities presented to you.

Guns & Rain works with contemporary visual artists from seven African countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, and Nigeria. Most of our artists are emerging, and focus on social, political and historical themes.

The gallery was established in 2014 to address the under-representation of African artists in the international art scene. It was one of the first online galleries in Africa and was ahead of its time, with its first curated online exhibition taking place in 2015 in collaboration with WISER, Wits University. They now have a permanent space located at 5, 3rd Avenue (next door to Courier Guy) Parkhurst.

Vivien Kohler (artist)| Instagram: @vivienkohlerart

Born in 1976 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Vivien Kohler is an experimental mixed-media painter. The concept of liminality; the liminal city and its people, lies at the core of Kohler's work, which explores migration, marginalization and displacement in the urban landscape of post-Apartheid South Africa.

Kohler constructs two and three-dimensional assemblage pieces; appropriating discarded material, painting naturalistic figures and detailed replications of packaging material (a layered visual metaphor signifying transience, migration, displacement), to articulate challenging social and economic circumstances that affect those on the periphery. For more information aboout Guns & Rain gallery · We would like to thank the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for their support · META Foundation website · META Foundation on Facebook · META Foundation on Twitter · META Foundation on Instagram · Connect with META Foundation on LinkedIn

The META Foundation is a dynamic visual arts organisation that programmes for artists based at Johannesburg’s creative landmark building of August House. The foundation works across three primary pillars which centre on collaborating with ARTISTS, instigating projects, exhibiting ARTWORKS, workshops & art commissions, while inspiring diverse AUDIENCES to meet artists. This particular podcast is focused on our work helping artists to become entrepreneurs.

August House is an artist studio space located in Doornfontein, Johannesburg. The space has been operating as a studio space since 2006 and has seen many successful artists pass through its doors. For more information about the space or its programming, please visit: @august_house76 on Instagram or @augusthouse76 on Facebook

Our guest speakers on the show today were:

Mary Corrigall – Arts writer, critic, and researcher who runs an art research consultancy called Corrigall & Co. Corrigall is a prominent commentator in South Africa and regularly conducts lectures at auction houses, galleries, art fairs, and the Sotheby's Institute in London. Corrigall is committed to cultivating audiences and using her research and expertise to contribute towards growing and sustaining arts production on the African continent.

AND

Dr Paul Baylis, is the senior specialist, and art museum curator at ABSA who spoke to us about the Absa L’Atelier art competition. This is a leading Pan-African art competition, which has been running for 37 years this year, and is hosted annually by Absa in partnership with the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA).

Important notice: The 2023 competition is open for entries from 1 April to 31 May 2023.

We would like to thank the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for supporting this project - https://www.freiheit.org Corrigall & Co's report titled 'SA art market pricing & patterns' · ABSA L'aterlier Art Competition link · META Foundation website · META Foundation on Facebook · META Foundation on Twitter · META Foundation on Instagram · Connect with META Foundation on LinkedIn

Artists tell us about their experience on the course.

In this episode, host Sara Hallatt speaks to two emerging artists, Mohini Pillay and Alpheus Ngoepe, who participated in the Business of Being an Artist course.

The META Foundation is a dynamic visual arts organisation that programmes for artists based at Johannesburg’s creative landmark building of August House Studios. Within this context, and as part of the broader visual art eco-system, the META foundation works across three primary pillars which centre on collaborating with ARTISTS, instigating projects, exhibiting ARTWORKS, art practice focused workshops, and art commissions while inspiring diverse AUDIENCES to meet artists who work across mediums.

August House is an artist studios space located in Doornfontein, Johannesburg. The space has been operating as a studio space since 2006 and has seen many successful artists pass through its doors. For more information about the space or its programming, please visit: @august_house76 (Instagram) @augusthouse76 (Facebook)

Art Source South Africa (est.2001) is a visual arts consultancy with a proven track record operating within the contemporary arts sector. Core services are artist professional career training, coaching, mentorship and exhibition management. For more information about their projects and services, please visit: https://www.artsourcesouthafrica.co.za August House is an artist studio space located in Doornfontein, Johannesburg · Thank you to the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for supporting this project · Guest Mohini Pillay on Instagram · Guest Alpheus Ngoepe on Instagram · META Foundation website · META Foundation on Facebook · META Foundation on Twitter · META Foundation on Instagram · Connect with META Foundation on LinkedIn