Arts writer
THE 2016 edition of That Art Fair, taking place from February 18 to March 20, has expanded its programme to include a month-long line-up of exhibitions and events. That Art Party, the official fair celebration is set to take place in the opening week of the fair.
Last year’s much talked about party saw a great line-up of luminaries from the art and music world, such as The Brother Moves On, Spoek Mathambo, Thor Rixon, Champions of the Sonarverse, Skattie, as well as the Cape Town premiere screening of the documentary, Shield and Spear.
Popping up in a much larger space at The Palms Centre in Woodstock, That Art Fair 2016 will partner with a growing list of international institutions from Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.
The showcase will encompass a wide range of disciplines and featured events, including but not limited to visual art, featuring a wide range of painters, sculptors, photographers and printmakers who will be participating both independently and as represented by galleries.
A performance art category will present a month-long programme of local and international performance art, while a ‘future masters’ section will host a curated exhibition to showcase mid-career artists, serving to bridge the divide between the older, established market and the new emerging markets.
Comic art presented by Comic ArtAfrica will also be on the programme, as will a curated photography focus presented by Snapped magazine.
There will also be a space for photographers and galleries to exhibit independently. Film and video also take centre-stage with a curated line-up of multimedia work from documentaries to art films, animation and shorts.
Skattie will showcase fashion and culture using their unique brand – which is something of a cross-over between fashion, art and culture. Urban art will also be covered with mural and graffiti artists invited to exhibit examples of their work, as well as take part in live art events.
Art for Change will examine art with a particular focus on environmental and social change, and a design and art section will feature leading typographical muralists, designers, illustrators and artists who will explore the crossover of design and art. An Art SuperMart will offer a dedicated pop-up shop selling the work of numerous creative practitioners, from books and zines to t-shirts, jewellery and other merchandise.
There’ll also be educational and topical programmes curated for emerging and established creative practitioners and the public. A selection committee, comprising some of the most respected figures in the art world, will ensure that work selected fits the exhibition criteria and curatorial approach. Over the four-week period, exhibitors will rotate, so there will be fresh art on exhibition weekly.
Applications for participation are now open. That Art Fair is for unrepresented artists and artists’ collectives, as well as galleries and institutions that wish to submit their artists for consideration and participation. Submissions close November 6.
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