Artists can now enter for the DALRO 2026 Visual Arts Merit Award aimed at emerging South African artists

By CityLife Arts Writer

Applications are now open for the 2026 DALRO Visual Arts Merit Award, offering emerging artists access to exhibitions, professional development, residencies, mentorship and career-building opportunities.

Johannesburg, South Africa – August 2026 – The Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation

(DALRO), in partnership with Bag Factory Artists’ Studios (Bag Factory), LL Editions and William Humphreys Art Gallery (WHAG), has opened applications for the 2026 DALRO Visual Arts Merit Award (VAMA).

Established in 2024, VAMA is designed to support emerging and developing South African visual artists at a critical stage in their careers by providing not only recognition, but the practical knowledge, resources, professional exposure and development opportunities needed to build a sustainable artistic practice.

VAMA is more than a competition – it is a career accelerator.

The programme brings together exhibition opportunities, professional development, mentorship and artist residencies, creating a pathway for emerging artists to develop their practices and take meaningful steps towards sustainable careers in the visual arts.

From potential to practice

The 2026 programme will select ten outstanding finalists, whose work will be presented in a group exhibition at DALRO in Johannesburg.

The Top Ten will also participate in professional development workshops facilitated by industry experts. The programme will address key aspects of professional artistic practice, including exhibition development, business and financial management, writing and marketing, artistic identity and conceptual clarity, sustainable creative practice, contracts and dispute resolution, copyright, pricing and mental health.

The workshops are intended to equip artists with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the professional realities of the visual arts sector.

From the Top Ten, the adjudication panel will select a Winner and Runner-Up, who will receive further opportunities to develop their practices through dedicated residencies, mentorship, exhibition opportunities, accommodation, materials and living support.

A 12-month development journey for the winner

The Winner will undertake a 12-month development programme comprising two six-monthresidencies.

The first six months will take place at Bag Factory in Johannesburg from November 2026 to April 2027, providing dedicated time and space to develop a new body of work. The residency will include accommodation, materials and living support, mentorship, progress meetings and peer critique.

From May to October 2027, the Winner will undertake a further six-month residency at LL Editions, working with printmaker Joe Leshoka to develop printmaking skills and explore the adaptation of work developed during the Bag Factory residency into limited-edition lithographs.

The Winner’s programme will culminate in a solo exhibition at Bag Factory, presenting the body of work developed through the residency alongside the resulting lithographs.

An eight –week residency for the runner-up

The Runner-Up will undertake an eight-week residency at WHAG in Kimberley, providing dedicated time, space and professional support to develop a body of work aligned with their project proposal.

The Runner-Up will receive accommodation, materials and living support, together with mentorship, progress meetings and peer critique. The programme will culminate in a solo exhibition at WHAG.

Supporting the next generation of South African artists 

VAMA recognises that a successful artistic career requires more than creative talent. Artists also need access to professional networks, knowledge, mentorship, resources, exhibition opportunities and the time and space to develop their work.

Through VAMA, DALRO and its partners are creating a platform that brings these elements together.

“As WHAG, we are excited to partner with cultural organizations such as DALRO for the WHAG 2027 Artist-in-Residency (AiR) programme. This promises to be a ground-breaking inter-organisational collaboration that we hope to nurture for years to come. As a national art museum that is a custodian of national visual narratives, we are honoured to continue upholding the mission of artisticfreedom and development as enshrined in our constitution. The coming together of VAMA and WHAG-AiR shows concerted effort and unity of cultural organizations in changing the complexion of art development in South Africa, specifically when it comes to the visual arts” – Curatorial team at WHAG.

The initiative reflects DALRO’s commitment to supporting creators and creating opportunities for emerging visual artists to develop their practices, gain professional exposure and build sustainable careers.

Who can apply?

The award is open to emerging and developing South African visual artists between the ages of 18 and 35 who are South African citizens and based in South Africa.

Applicants must not be represented by a gallery or artist manager and must have an arts and/orrelated qualification, community-based learning or other relevant training. Applicants must also nothave previously received a prize from DALRO, Bag Factory, LL Editions or WHAG or, where applicable, previously had a solo exhibition.

Artists working in painting, drawing, photography, textiles, tapestries, 3D works/sculpture, video and mixed-media installations are eligible to apply, subject to the applicable submission requirements. There is no entry fee.

How to apply

Applicants are required to submit a single PDF containing:

• A biography of no more than 500 words

• A comprehensive CV

• An artist statement of no more than 500 words

• A portfolio of 5–10 high-resolution images of works created within the last 2–3 years

• A certified copy of their South African ID

• A motivation letter of no more than 500 words

• A completed entry form

• A project proposal responding to the objectives of the award

The project proposal must address both the 12-month Winner residency programme at Bag Factory and LL Editions and the eight-week Runner-Up residency at WHAG, explaining what the artist intends to create and how the opportunity will contribute to the development of their practice.

Applications close at 23h59 (SAST) on Friday, 4 September 2026.

Applications can be submitted by email to applications@dalro.co.za.

Adjudication panel

A panel of esteemed adjudicators will review submissions and select the Top Ten finalists based on merit, originality and the artist’s ability to fulfil the objectives of the award.

The Winner and Runner-Up will then be selected from the Top Ten and announced at the opening of the Top Ten exhibition. The adjudicators’ decisions are final, and DALRO reserves the right to withhold the award if entries are not deemed to meet the required standard.

The 2026 adjudication panel comprises Chepape Makgato, Malikah Meyer, Maria Fidel Regueros, Joe Leshoka, Odysseus Shirindza, Lazarus Serobe, Pat Mautloa, and Tshepo Bopape.

An investment in the future of visual art

VAMA is intended to provide more than a moment of recognition. It creates an opportunity for artists to develop their work, strengthen their professional capabilities, build networks and gain experience that can support the next stage of their careers.

Through the combined expertise and resources of DALRO, Bag Factory, LL Editions and William Humphreys Art Gallery, VAMA 2026 offers emerging artists a platform to develop the work, knowledge and professional confidence needed to build sustainable artistic practices.

Details of the application process of the 2026 DALRO Visual Arts Merit Award

There is no entry fee.
Applications close:
23h59 (SAST)
Friday, 4 September 2026
Apply at: applications@dalro.co.za