Thami Mnyele Foundation Residency Award

Established in 1990, the Thami Mnyele Foundation is named in commemoration of the South African artist and freedom fighter Thami Mnyele who died as a result of his actions as a member of the MEDU group. His visit to Amsterdam inspired Dutch artists, politicians and people interested in culture exchange, to set up an artists-in-residence program. The main objective of the Foundation is to advance cultural exchange between artists from Africa, the Netherlands and Amsterdam in particular. To this aim, the Foundation engages artists from African continent and diaspora of all disciplines of contemporary visual art (painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, video, film, audio and multi media) to work for three months in the Thami Mnyele Foundation studio, located in an old school building in the centre of Amsterdam. The Thami Mnyele Foundation Residency Award is therefore an ideal opportunity for concentration on work, reflection, research and discussion. The artist in residence receives a grant for living expenses and a budget for material and the travelling expenses to and from the Netherlands. In order to promote this cultural exchange, the Thami Mnyele Foundation mediates in meetings with artists and people associated with the Dutch art world. The selection of participants is done on a regular basis by an independent selection committee of experts, which is appointed by the Board of the Foundation.

The Thami Mnyele Foundation Residency Award is now open to new applications for a unique three-month residency program in Amsterdam. Artists from Africa and diaspora of all disciplines of contemporary visual art, such as painting, sculpture, installation, media art and performing art are welcome. It offers an opportunity for cross-cultural artistic exchange and for artists to delve deep into their research and experiment.

Applications should be submitted by 20 January 2022 (midnight CET), using the online application form.

For more information, please visit their website or send an e-mail to [email protected].