The Absa L’Atelier competition, through its prizes, focuses on how best to support the artist in growing their brand and in equipping artists with the relevant skills needed to build their careers. The Absa L’Atelier also gives artists opportunities to build their network and collaborate in their art practice, while providing them with an unique platform that would best position them within the visual arts industry.
Competition format
- There are 12 countries that qualify to take part in the Absa L’Atelier (Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, the Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia).
- After the entry closing date, the 12 countries are randomly divided into three groups of four countries each.
- Artists in each group compete against one another.
- There's no competition among the three groups – artists compete within their own group only.
- Artists are required to submit one entry, which consists of a portfolio of work of a minimum of four and a maximum of five artworks. Submission of fewer than four artworks will result in the artist’s immediate disqualification.
- Each group of four countries have a different group of adjudicators.
- A single winner will be selected from each of the three groups of four countries (i.e. one winner from Group A, one winner from Group B and one winner from Group C).
- Absa has the right to exhibit artworks from each of the winners after they are announced.
- The winner of each group is referred to as an Absa L’Atelier Ambassador.