Artist Proof Studio

EXCELLENCE THROUGH POSSIBILITY

Leaders in fine art printmaking excellence since 1991. We specialise in arts training, print collaborations, partnerships, sales and distribution of prints.

contents INTRODUCTION.............................................3 ABOUT APS....................................................5 EDUCATION...................................................6 TRAINING......................................................8 PRODUCTION................................................12 SALES.............................................................16 HOW TO GET INVOLVED................................18 OBJECTIVES OF APS.......................................24 PARTNERS......................................................26 CONTACT US..................................................27

INTRODUCTION WHO WE ARE Artist Proof Studio (APS) is a multi-faceted community-centred organisation that trains talented students in South Africa and other countries in Africa. Our graduates are better positioned to become leading art practitioners in the market.

Graduate and alumni artists are proudly represented through APS at art fairs, and reputable art galleries throughout the country and internationally. As a centre of printmaking excellence we attract opportunities to collaborate with prominent South African artists who work with our team of experienced printers to create exciting print editions.

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MISSION AND VISION OF APS MISSION The Mission of APS is to provide an environment to develop citizens with a common set of values, expressed in the notion of Ubuntu, that have talent and passion to achieve artistic excellence.

VISION The Vision for Artist Proof Studio is founded on a sense of shared humanity whereby people of talent and passion can reach for excellence in art making to achieve self-sustainability.

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ABOUT ARTIST PROOF STUDIO WHO WE ARE

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rtist Proof Studio was founded in 1991 by Kim Berman and the late Nhlanhla Xaba as a community printmaking centre that reflected the spirit of a healthy democracy and the ideals expressed in the new South African constitution. As printmaking was seen as a democratic medium and a counterforce to the suspicion and division left from the apartheid years, it was considered to be fitting approach to building a true egalitarian society. The country was on the brink of real change and in many ways it was artists that led the rethinking of how the future could look for all South Africans. Embodying this movement, APS became one of the pioneering community art centres in what would eventually become a cultural hub for the city of Johannesburg: Newtown.

During the last 27 years, APS has grown from a small, rudimentarily equipped printmaking studio to one of the largest and most vibrant community and

professional printmaking facilities in Southern Africa, accommodating up to 85 students per year and also hosting, publishing, and providing print edition facilities and collaborative project opportunities for many artists each year.

Throughout its history, APS has evolved to a centre focused on redress to one focused on innovation and excellence.

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WHAT WE OFFER EDUCATION Over the course of four years, students develop skills and knowledge in drawing, printmaking, visual literacy, critical studies and basic business practice. They also receive work-placement training through Special Projects by participating in outreach programmes and commissioned projects.

In third year students are expected to develop a portfolio of 10 artworks, an artist statement and curate a group exhibition by the end of the year of study. Upon graduating, students are invited to take part in our Internship Programme where they work in one or more of the business units gaining workplace experience though mentorship.

APS also runs a year-long part-time programme that focuses primarily on printmaking skills. This runs on a Saturday only and is aimed at talented high school learners and individuals that work or study during the week.

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WORKPLACE TRAINING In 2016 we introduced a fourth year senior and work placement programme.

With the support of the Mary Slack and Daughters Foundation and Chikhululu Investments (social investment Branch of RMB), we successfully formalised and implemented a Senior Internship programme as a pilot in 2016. The programme creates learning opportunities through workplace training and experiential learning for each graduate artist in one or more units at APS. Through private and corporate partnerships a series of seminars are run every Thursday to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge in areas including law, business and communications which enhance and increase their understanding of professional practice.

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TRAINING The Special Projects Unit houses outreach, income generation, social advocacy programmes as well as skills development through commissioned projects. It has developed a holistic approach to promoting social change through art. The approach supports the development of committed, skilled, and professional artists who make meaningful contributions in our society through their engagement with community-based projects. The Unit has established a range of corporate, government and civic partnerships that contribute to a diverse and sustainable funding model.

The Special Projects Unit works closely with the Education programme to involve students in workplace training and professional experience where their printmaking skills are effectively incorporated into a larger context of artproduction and business.

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#markingartaccesible iTooArtInsure, Hollard, Yellowwoods Art and Artist Proof Studio partnered on a mural campaign where a team of APS students and amulni painted 9 large-scale artworks in the stairwells of Hollard head offices between 2016 and 2018.

The aim of the campaign was to educate and engage staff and visitors at the Hollard Main Campus about art. APS approached various artists that print with the studio to not only provide artworks to be used on this campaign, but also get involved in doing print demnstrations and deliver insightful talks about the work. Featured artists include Jan Tshikhuthula, Bevan de Wet, Lebohang Motaung, Mongezi Ncaphayi, Sizwe Khoza, Landi Raubenheimer, Ramarutha Makoba, Phillip Mabote and Themba Khumalo. The mural team also had the opportunity to engage with people during the mural painting process.

The partnership included a workplace training component for APS 4th year internship programme participants.

The intern team was guided throught 10

the steps of successfully completing a large-scale mural project. Their involvement in the initial stages of the project saw the interns effectively lead the rest of the interns and students throught the last artwork.

Interns had the opportunity to work closely with the established artists of the original artworks during the painting process. The featured artists shared the challenging journey of reimagining their artwork from print to large-scale murals.

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PRODUCTION The Professional Printmaking Studio is an income-generating unit that facilitates print editions and collaborations between artists and a team of technicians. It specialises in fine art printing mediums such as intaglio, etching, relief printing, screen printing and lithography, as well as providing state of the art equipment and materials for printmaking collaborations. APS master printers collectively have over 20 years of experience in professional printmaking. Their abilities are in demand, and the studio has reached a new level of professional excellence in printmaking. Artist Proof Studio has an active exchange programme that attracts some of South Africa’s foremost artists to collaborate and publish print portfolios.

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The artworks sold in through the APS gallery are mostly printed in our professional printing studio. Prior to the production of new projects, costing and schedules are reviewed in line with policies and sales strategies. When the budget for printing has been finalised and an agreement between the artist and APS is reached – editioning commences.

SALES

Our gallery space is ‘multi-functional’ and is more often used as a showroom and ‘process’ space where prints are submitted, checked, photographed, sorted and packaged. APS showcases new editions through exhibitions at the studio.

This provides a contrast to the traditional white cube space often associated with gallery spaces and offers visitors and regular partners an experience of the energy at APS through guided tours of production space. We also showcase new print editions on other platforms including art fairs and partner galleries. We have recently launched a pop up space in Cape Town.

APS gallery currently has 23 consignee holders which offer APS artists increased opportunities for promotion and sales. Consignee holders as agents are offered special discounted rates on prints to accommodate gallery mark-ups and ensure that prices are kept in line with the market values. We consider our consignee holders and agents as partners with a shared intention of promoting the work of emerging artists and increasing access to excellent quality printmaking.

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HOW TO GET INVOLVED SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME Corporate Social Investment Partnerships

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PS subsidises approximately 85 young artists per year to attend classes and have access to printing their work in the studio. We constantly seek bursary funding through corporate social investment and personal patronage through our Sponsorship Programme.The programme operates on an ethos of partnership where partners receive artworks from students in exchange for funding support.

A range of companies including; Rand Merchant Bank, Johnson & Johnson, Fasken Martineau, Tracker, BBM Law, Bidvest and many others have been loyal and long-term partners of the APS Partnership Programme, receiving artwork from each of the students they support. Over time, they have built up a collection of artwork that they display throughout their offices and boardrooms or offer to clients as corporate gifts.

The value of these collections have increased considerably over the years as APS student artists have established their careers and success as professional artists.

Artists such as Philemon Hlungwani, Nelson Makamo, Bambo Sibiya, Mongezi Ncaphayi, Lehlogonolo Mashaba, Themba Khumalo, Ramarutha Makoba and Sizwe Khoza appear in various corporate collections and offices mentioned above.

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A PARTNER TO APS? • •

All donors receive a section 18A Certificate APS qualifies as a Socio-Economic Development (SED) recipient and level 4 BEE contributor with 100% black beneficiaries thereby adding to the benefits of your BBEEE scorecard

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH APS • • • •

Decorate or install artworks in your offices that will grow in value over time as the artists become established Share in the experience of a developing young artist and contribute to their success Create networking opportunities through exhibitions and events Make a social responsibility commitment which is a sustainable investment

HOW TO BECOME AN APS SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME PARTNER Ways You Can Contribute To the Arts Bursary Fund options Your contribution goes towards the Education Bursary Fund to subsidise APS students according to their needs and performance.

Friends of APS

Programme Funding

Tier 1 (Gifted 2 artworks / year) R 1,000-R 5,000 Tier 2 (Gifted 6 artworks / year) R 5,000-R 10,000 Tier 3 Gifted 10 (artworks / year + Section 18A Certificate) R 10,000-R 20,000

Education Funding – bursary funding; subsidising class project – printing, mural or outreach. Report will be provided to the funder along with a breakdown the reach of their contribution.

R 50,000 – R 250,000+

Contact Rene Mathibe to join the sponsorship programme: rene@artistproofstudio.co.za | +27 78 249 1547 22

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Objectives of Artist Proof Studio I. Transformation and Redress The early mission of Artist Proof Studio was centred on redress. APS focused on ensuring the availability of quality arts education to all South Africans, especially those that had little or no previous access to arts education due to a variety of factors, including social and racial disparity and exclusion. This approach is at the core of APS’ ethos and the studio plans to continue to promote transformation in society through art.

Artist Proof Studio has now become a training and resource centre for over a hundred and twenty artists from the townships areas in and around Johannesburg as well as other African counties.

The studio has developed many young talented artists who are now able to make a significant contribution to society through their visual art-based prints.

II. Sustainability as an Arts Organisation The studio has redefined itself as a hybrid organisation that both fulfils its social duties as a nonprofit community centre while simultaneously developing into a commercially viable, professional space that supports the work of the Gallery and Pro-Print Studio units through self-generated income.

This has resulted in a strategic focus towards establishing the studio as both a local and internationally recognised centre of printmaking excellence. The Education unit has undergone a thorough review of all its models and methodologies: further research is being undertaken to ensure that its programmes are innovative, effective and can serve as an example to arts education centres of all disciplines throughout South Africa.

III. Art to Promote Social Change and increase Social Cohesion Over the years, there has been an increasing focus in the studio on the role of the artist as an agent of change in society; artists are no longer only expected to achieve self-actualisation, but to also embody the idea of artists as active citizens.

Artist Proof Studio has evolved from a place of nurture to a place of social activism and agency of its members. Increasingly, students have engaged in a range of experiential learning projects that promote social justice through collaborative work with progressive partners.

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IV. Artistic Innovation in the South African context As printmaking both documented and instigated change during the years of apartheid, the life and work of Artist Proof Studio can be seen to have paralleled the development of democracy in South Africa. APS often led by example through its implementation of interracial interaction, as well as its thought processes that influenced its conception and realisation.

In the early years, the joint vision and commitment to the new South African society produced an outstanding quality in the printmaking processes. The resulting artwork illustrated how the arts can provide a platform for a successful and desperately needed model of reintegration and equality.

One of the major contributions that APS can now provide South Africa is a working model of a true centre of learning. APS encourages its teachers to move beyond mere instruction and instead foster a place of learning, so as to broaden the curriculum and allow both students and teachers opportunities to grow and learn together. This is possible in the living, working space that is Artist Proof Studio with its Gallery, Pro-Print Studio and active outreach programmes through Special Projects.

V. Youth Development and Job Creation As a hybrid organisation, the studio’s activities require ingenuity and a real ability for selfmanagement. APS has contributed significantly to developing leadership capacities for its members.

The commitment to this objective is reflected in the increasing success of APS artists’ individual careers. Renowned artists such as Phillemon Hlungwani, Nicholas Hlobo, Samson Mnisi, Mbongeni Buthelezi and Paul Molete started their careers at Artist Proof Studio, and a new generation of talents including Nelson Makamo, Lehlogonolo Mashaba, Senzo Shabangu, Bambo Sibiya, Themba Khumalo, Mongezi Ncaphayi, Sizwe Khoza, Lebohang Motaung and many others are rapidly emerging and succeeding in both the local and international visual arts spheres.

Furthermore, the studio is committed to offering employment opportunities to graduates of APS in addition to equipping them with the life skills necessary to take on many external and entrepreneurial positions through an internship programme.

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PARTNERS FUNDERS

STRATEGIC/PROGRAMME PARTNERS

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CONTACT US

3 Helen Joseph Street, Bus Factory, Newtown Cultural Precinct, Johannesburg +27 11 492 1278

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admin@artistproofstudio.co.za

Education: rene@artistproofstudio.co.za Training: nathi@artistproofstudio.co.za Production: proshop@artistproofstudio.co.za Sales: gallery@artistproofstudio.co.za

www.artistproofstudio.co.za Artist Proof Studio

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Artist Proof Studio

@ArtistProofJHB

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