2020 ANNUAL REPORT
BAG FACTORY ANNUAL REPORT 1 JAN – 31 DEC 2020
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
CONTENTS
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DIRECTOR’S INTRODUCTION
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ABOUT THE BAG FACTORY
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WHAT WE DO
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FUNDING AND SUPPORT
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OUR TEAM
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BAG FACTORY BOARD
2020 PROGRAMMES: 18
ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
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EXHIBITIONS
30
RESIDENCIES
36
ONLINE PROGRAMME
42
STUDIO PROVISION
46
FINANCIAL REPORT
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
2020: IN REVIEW Candice Allison Director, Bag Factory
Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
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The year started with energy and vigour with 2019 Cassirer Welz Award winner DuduBloom More working towards her solo exhibition which opened at Kalashnikovv Gallery in February 2020. Our first quarter residency programme welcomed Berlin-based/Icelandic artist Erla Haraldsdóttir, Gina Maxim from Zimbabwe, and Swedish artist Andreas Andersson. On 5 March 2020, South Africa announced its first case of the Coronavirus. Within a matter of weeks, as the crisis grew internationally and nationally, guidelines of social distancing escalated to a national lockdown from 26 March 2020. Embracing the opportunity to adapt and respond reflexively to these unprecedented changes in the world around us, our Autumn Open Studios were reimagined as a virtual event, and we launched our first online exhibition Covert Bioscope showcasing video works Bag Factory artists.
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In May, it became apparent with the announcement of the phased reopening of the country, that the Bag Factory would not be able to resume the majority of its programmes until level 1. The difficult decision was taken to cancel all international residencies and exhibitions scheduled for the remainder of 2020. In the third quarter we participated in online versions of Latitudes Art Fair and Turbine Art Fair, and we launched an online version of the Bag Factory’s Summer Salon. Our first virtual curatorial residency, LusoLinkup focussed on engaging with curators from the Lusophone region of southern Africa. Luamba Muinga (Angola) and Sara Carneiro (Mozambique/Portugal) collaborated on a shared curatorial project, which resulted in the digital publication Are we not makers of history? While the cancelling of exhibitions, fundraising events, and donor funded programmes took a hard knock on the
organisation’s finances, we started the year in a good financial position to weather the second quarter of 2020. We are also grateful for generous donations from the Loder family and from Strauss&Co. which helped us stay afloat through the remainder of the year. I am delighted to announce that in May 2020 the Bag Factory became the official owner of the building it has called home for 30 years. As we came to grips with being the caretakers of a legacy which spans three decades, the lockdown offered muchneeded time to slow down and truly reflect on how the Bag Factory can fulfil its vision and mission for future generations. The Bag Factory’s 30th Anniversary celebration in 2021 will provide a timely moment to reflect on our achievements of the past while looking ahead to how we can continue to meaningfully invest in art from the ground up.
Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
ABOUT THE BAG FACTORY
The Bag Factory is a non-profit contemporary visual art organisation in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Established in 1991 by renowned South African artist Dr David Koloane and British philanthropist Robert Loder, The Bag Factory emerged at a time of historical change in South Africa. It was the first permanent art space to bring together visual artists from all racial, cultural and educational backgrounds. As part of the international Triangle Network, the Bag Factory was envisioned as an extension of the international workshop models Triangle New York, Thupelo, and Pachipamwe, which fostered an ethos of non-hierarchical learning through exchange. 30 years on, we remain committed to the founding principals of inclusion and diversity, which are reflected across all our activities and programmes.
Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
The Bag Factory’s crucial role for the arts in South Africa is confirmed by our long list of celebrated alumni who have gone on to develop international and prize-winning careers. They include our founding members David Koloane, Sam Nhlengethwa, Kagiso Patrick Mautloa, as well as Penny Siopis, Kendell Geers, Tracey Rose, Gabi Ngcobo, Lady Skollie, Blessing Ngobeni, and Bronwyn Katz.
We continue to invest in developing exciting and talented emerging artists who have a promising career trajectory ahead of them.
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WHAT WE DO
With a pioneering 30-year history of providing a supportive infrastructure for artists, the Bag Factory is unique in combining art making with cultural debate and art exhibitions, thereby creating a fertile international environment for experimentation, innovation and cultural dialogue between creatives in South Africa and the rest of the world.
We provide:
• Artist & curatorial development: David Koloane Award, Cassirer Welz Award, Young Womxn Studio Bursary, professional skills development workshops.
All our programmes are accompanied by events and outreach projects that encourage a greater understanding of contemporary visual art and stimulate interaction between artists and the local community.
• Studio space to a cross-generational community of Johannesburg-based artists; • A prestigious international artist and curatorial residency programme; • Regular exhibitions that showcase new work by emerging artists to the wider public; 11
Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
FUNDING AND SUPPORT Bag Factory would like to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters, partners, collaborators, collectors, audience and the many artists who supported our work in 2020.
Our Collaborating Partners
Our Funding Partners
Kalashnikovv Gallery
Department of Arts and Culture
Latitudes Art Fair
KfW Stiftung
Turbine Art Fair
Pro Helvetia Johannesburg financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Strauss & Co. Fine Art Auctioneers
Swedish Arts Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden) The African Arts Trust Triangle Arts Trust VANSA, ArtBank SA, & DSAC
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OUR TEAM The Bag Factory’s small but dedicated team ensures the smooth running of all the organisation’s operational and creative programme events. Candice Allison Director Tiina Liebenberg Programme Manager Departed February 2020 Nomalanga Nkosi Programme Coordinator March – September 2020
Khanyisile Mawhayi Project Assistant Intern December 2020 – March 2021 Funded by the VANSA/ArtBank SA/DSAC PESP Job Placement Programme Zinhle Zwane Project Assistant Intern December 2020 – March 2021 Funded by the VANSA/ArtBank SA/DSAC PESP Job Placement Programme
Lindokuhle Ntombela Marketing & Project Assistant
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BAG FACTORY BOARD Chairperson: Veronica King Veronica King is the founder and CEO of Emuthini Consulting in Johannesburg. She is a communication specialist, master facilitator and global executive coach with almost 20 years’ experience. Veronica has held senior executive positions in South Africa, across Africa and internationally where she has earned business acumen, market intelligence, empathy and understanding for organisational systems and human dynamics. She has strong diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, facilitating and building consensus among diverse individuals.
Vice Chairperson: Zachary Isdahl
Zachary is an experienced strategist, relationship builder, and team leader with nearly 15 years of senior-level global development experience, primarily in East and Southern Africa. Zachary is also a tireless champion of contemporary
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African art. As a Co-Founder of Africa Facing Art, he works to advance the role of the creative and cultural sectors as a key driver of development on the continent. He holds an MBA from the University of Geneva in Switzerland and a BS in Sociology and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Tshepo Hlongwane Tshepo has over 7 years of experience working in banking within the Corporate and Institutional Banking division of Investec Bank in Johannesburg. He co-founded the Bokamoso Cross Mentorship Program, aimed at providing mentorship, career guidance and life skills to high school learners. He also co-founded the Young Professionals Forum (YPF), to encourage active citizenry among young professionals from all sectors of the economy. He is the founder and director of Brown Eyed Boy, a social entrepreneurship business that curates, sources and exhibits artworks of talented South African artists.
Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
BAG FACTORY BOARD Mphethi Morojele Mphethi is owner and founder of award-winning MMA Design Studio, established in Johannesburg in 1995. He studied architecture at the University of Cape Town and at the Bartlett, University College London. His built and critical work has been recognized and awarded locally and abroad for engaging the African landscape through a contemporary interpretation of indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. He has curated exhibitions on South African architecture and urbanity at the Venice Biennale, RIBA London, and AEDAS, Berlin.
Patrick Kagiso Mautloa
Pat is a leading South African visual artist who has been based at the Bag Factory since 1992. He studied art at Mofolo Park Arts Centre and Rorke’s Drift, and later went on to teach part-time at Mofolo Arts Centre and at FUBA. He has been a
Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
vital part of the Bag Factory’s activities and he plays an integral role in the Bag Factory’s mentorship and skills development programmes for emerging artists. He is a committee member of the Thupelo Art Project.
Usha Seejarim
Usha is an artist and curator, who worked from a studio at the Bag Factory from 2016-2018. She received a B-Tech Degree in Fine Art from the University of Johannesburg in 1999 and a Master’s Degree in Fine Art at University of the Witwatersrand in 2008. In 2018, Seejarim was the recipient of the prestigious Dak’Art Biennale Sculpture Prize; and was awarded the Tomorrow’s/Today Prize at the 2018 Investec Cape Town Art Fair, in Cape Town. Seejarim also presented an artist talk on Mistress Pieces: Iconic Artworks by Feminists and Gender Activists at the University of Johannesburg.
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ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
YOLANDA MAZWANA YOUNG WOMXN STUDIO BURSARY 1 OCT 2019 – 30 SEP 2020
Yolanda was the recipient of the Bag Factory’s Young
Womxn Studio Bursary, funded by Bag Factory alumni artist Sam Nhlengethwa. The bursary covers the rental of the David Koloane Studio for a full year.
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DUDUZILE MORE
2019 CASSIRER WELZ AWARD WINNER 2 DEC 2019 – 7 FEB 2020
In its ninth year, the winner of the 2019 Cassirer Welz Award received studio space at the Bag Factory, a contribution towards material costs, and a stipend. The residency concluded with a solo exhibition of the winner’s work at Kalashnikovv Gallery. This programme is funded
by Strauss&Co.
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
CHERIESE DILRAJH AND HEMALI KHOOSAL (RSA)
YOUNG WOMXN STUDIO BURSARY WINNERS 1 OCT 2019 – 30 SEP 2021 Taking into consideration the challenges of the current global economic climate, we decided to maximise the benefit of the annual Young Womxn Studio Bursary,
funded by Bag Factory alumni artist Sam Nhlengethwa. Cheriese Dilrajh and Hemali Khoosal were selected as joint recipients to share a studio for twelve months.
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LEBOGANG ‘MOGUL’ MABUSELA (RSA)
YOUNG WOMXN STUDIO BURSARY RUNNER-UP 5 OCT 2020 – 8 JAN 2021 Recognizing the huge disruption to the lives and livelihoods of artists this year as a result of the
Coronavirus, the Bag Factory decided to help support even more artists during this exceptionally difficult time. Lebogang ‘Mogul’ Mabusela was selected as a runner-up for a three-month studio bursary.
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
Our director ran an online Artist Portfolio Workshop aimed at helping artists prepare their applications for the Cassirer Welz Award and other artist opportunities. The workshop was well-received and will be repeated whenever we publish opportunities.
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LEVY POOE
2020 CASSIRER WELZ AWARD WINNER 1 DEC 2020 – 8 FEB 2021
Now in its tenth year, the winner of the 2020 Cassirer Welz Award received studio space at the Bag Factory, and a R 25,000 cash prize towards production, material costs and transport. The residency will conclude with a solo exhibition of the winner’s work at the Bag Factory in FEB
2021. This programme is funded by Strauss&Co.
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
EXHIBITIONS
DUDUBLOOM MORE: DELICATE/TENDENCY/RESPONSE 01 – 22 FEB 2020
DELICATE/TENDENCY/RESPONSE was the culmination
of Duduzile More’s residency as the 2019 Cassirer Welz Award winner, hosted by Kalashnikovv Gallery as part of the Bag Factory’s OFF programme. In this newly created body of work, Bloom uses mixed materials of thread, paper, wool, perspex, inks and more, to explore the
delicacy of trauma and the tendencies of personal traumatic memories.
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NEVILLE STARLING: WORLDS ARE MADE
AND UNMADE; I HEAR THE MUSIC OF SPHERES 21 NOV – 15 DEC 2020
The Bag Factory presented the first SA solo exhibition, Worlds are Made and Unmade; I Hear the Music of Spheres by Zimbabwean artist Neville Starling as part of his ongoing body of kinetic, sound-based sculptural “plays”
entitled Within the Belly of an Echo.
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
RESIDENCIES
ERLA HARALDSDÓTTIR (ICELAND) 15 JAN – 15 APR 2020 (Ended early due to Covid-19)
Berlin-based Erla returned to the Bag Factory through our
self-funded residency programme, during which time she worked towards a solo exhibition due to open in Sweden in March 2020. Due to the Covid-19 crisis the exhibition was cancelled, and Erla and her husband decided to leave South Africa early on 22 March 2020 on one of the last
flights back to Germany. Erla received funding directly from IASPIS for her residency.
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GEORGINA MAXIM (ZIM)
03 FEB – 30 APR 2019 (Ended early due to Covid-19)
Georgina Maxim's residency at the Bag Factory is part of Art Connection Africa, a collaboration between KfW Stiftung and Triangle Network to foster visual art exchanges, capacity building and informal learning activities within sub-Saharan Africa. Due to the Covid-19
crisis, Gina returned to Harare on 25 March 2020 before the South African lockdown began.
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
ANDREAS ANDERRSON (SWEDEN) 01 MAR – 30 APR 2020 (Ended early due to Covid-19)
Andreas Andersson joined us for a two-month residency,
supported by Iaspis, the Swedish Arts Grants Committee (Konstnärsnämnden) International Program supporting international exchange for practitioners in the areas of visual art, design, craft and architecture. Due to the Covid19 crisis, Andreas returned to Sweden on 25 March 2020
before the South African lockdown began.
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JOE TURPIN (RSA)
1 JUN 2020 – 1 FEB 2021 (AIR Programme)
Johannesburg-based artist Joe Turpin will be occupying our visiting artist studio 1 as part of our self-funded AIR programme. Due to the cancellation of our international residencies, the studio is available until February 2020. Joe was previously an intern at the Bag Factory, and he
has participated in some of our exhibitions for emerging artists. He has a BA FA from Wits University.
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
VIRTUAL PROGRAMME
COVERT BIOSCOPE
COVERT BIOSCOPE | ARTIST Q&As
15 APR – 31 JUL 2020
08 APR & 15 APR 2020
Throughout the Coronavirus lockdown, the Bag Factory
Our Director Candice Allison led two artist Q&A
presents Covert Bioscope, a series of online screenings of
conversations with the participating artists of Covert
artist films by current and recent Bag Factory artists. This
Bioscope, talking more about the video works included in
exhibition is supported with funding from Department of
the exhibition, their wider artistic practice, and about life as
Sport, Arts and Culture.
an artist under lockdown.
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VIRTUAL OPEN STUDIO
ONLINE PANEL DISCUSSION
25 APRIL 2020
25 APRIL 2020
In April the Bag Factory hosted its first ever virtual open
As part of the Bag Factory’s virtual open studio, alumni
studios, featuring video interviews with visiting and studio
artist and academic Sharlene Khan led a panel discussion
artists, lockdown home studio diaries, and a panel
with Georgina Maxim (Zim) and Erla Haraldsdottir
discussion with our visiting artists led by Bag Factory
(Iceland/Berlin). Andreas Andersson (Sweden) was not
alumni artist and academic Sharlene Khan.
well enough to join the conversation.
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
LATITUDES ONLINE
RMB TURBINE ART FAIR
17 JUL – 30 SEP 2020
27 AUG - 2 SEP 2020
The Bag Factory participated in the virtual Latitudes Art
The Bag Factory participated in the virtual RMB Turbine
Fair, showcasing artworks by ten Bag Factory artists.
Art Fair, showcasing artworks by eleven Bag Factory artists.
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LUSO-LINKUP CURATORIAL RESIDENCY
ONLINE PUBLICATION LAUNCH
1 SEP – 30 NOV 2020
05 DEC 2020
Sara Carneiro (Mozambique) and Luamba Muinga (Angola)
The digital publication Are we not makers of history?
participated in the Bag Factory’s virtual Luso-Linkup
produced by Sara Carneiro and Luamba Muinga during the
curatorial residency. This project was supported by an ANT
Luso-Linkup residency was launched with an online panel
Mobility Grant from Pro Helvetia Johannesburg financed by
discussion between Bag Factory Director Candice Allison and
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
the two curators. The publication is available on ISSUU.
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
STUDIO PROVISION
SPRING OPEN STUDIOS
24 OCT 2020
2020 STUDIO ARTISTS
Bev Butkow
Candice Kramer
Dimakatso Mathopa
Gail Behrmann
Henrietta Scholtz
Kagiso Patrick Mautloa
Malebona Maphutse
Neo Diseko
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2020 STUDIO ARTISTS
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Neville Starling
Olivia Botha
Phumulani Ntuli
Richard Ndimande
Ross Passmoor
Sandile Radebe
Wezile Mgibe
LL Editions
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FINANCIAL REPORT
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020 Audited
Audited
2020 R
2019 R
ASSETS Non-current assets
Non Current Assets Current assets
Inventories Accounts receivable Cash resources Total assets
1,009,763 1,009,763
19,129 19,129
332,341 15,350 316,991
1,298,174 47,172 1,251,002
1,342,104
1,317,303
1,283,530 1,283,530
1,287,572 1,287,572
58,574 58,574 -
29,731 29,731 -
1,342,104
1,317,303
LIABILITIES Equity
Retained Income / (Accumulated Loss) Current liabilities
Trade and Other Payables Deferred Donor Funding
Total liabilities
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Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
Audited 2020 R
Audited 2019 R
1,408,656 417,246 431,170 470,112 31,270 17,150 4,196 28,971 8,541
2,070,356 673,596 66,797 505,277 274,315 408,139 75,622 66,610 -
352,117 318,738 33,379
883,248 675,798 207,450
GROSS PROFIT/(LOSS)
1,056,539
1,187,108
Less: Expenditure
1,060,581
1,085,810
Net (deficit)/surplus for the period Accumulated surplus at beginning of year Accumulated surplus at end of period
(4,042) 1,287,572 1,283,530
101,298 1,186,275 1,287,573
2% 4%
Rental income: 33%
Donations: 31%
Donor funding: 30%
Artwork sales, fundraising & other income Rental income Donor funding (projects) Donations Interest received
Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
Income Donor funding (projects) Donations Studio rental income Sales of artworks Sales of donated artworks Fundraising Income Other income (venue rental, equipment hire, sales of books, etc) Interest received Insurance proceeds Less: Cost of Sales Donor Funding: Project Costs Sale of Artworks: COS / Artist Commission
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International funding: 39%
South African funding: 61%
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Donor funding received Absa Gallery Art Source SA (funded by National Arts Council) Private Donors/Donations Business and Arts South Africa Department of Arts and Culture IASPIS Pro Helvetia Strauss & Co. Fine Art Auctioneers Triangle Arts Trust (funded by KfW Stiftung) The African Arts Trust less VAT paid
2020
2019
848,416 431,170 32,500 68,270 48,000 55,000 130,039 83,437 -
673,576 50,000 42,243 20,000 200,000 66,270 55,000 273,736 51,007 (84,680)
Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
Project costs: R318,738.00
Running costs: R1,060,581.00
Running Costs
Project Costs
Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
Operating expenses Accounting fees Auditors fees Bank charges Board expenses Cleaning materials COJ - Rates COJ - Municipal expenses Depreciation Employee costs General costs: gifts, staff refreshments Insurance Interest paid Legal fees Marketing Office Equipment Postage, printing and stationery Professional membeships Repairs and maintenance Secretarial Fees Security Telephone and internet Travel and meetings
1,060,581 26,040 18,000 8,218 3,271 8,378 70,595 128,415 9,366 663,338 4,522 49,847 1,505 6,976 2,349 3,639 500 35,918 4,174 12,423 3,107
1,085,810 51,290 22,891 18,469 3,958 5,845 88,233 105,139 6,158 600,163 1,554 46,749 2,197 36,023 459 (4,480) 4,736 500 50,321 8,528 8,412 20,268 8,397
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Project management, facilitation & reporting: R84,820
Production expenses: R31,171
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Accommodation, flights & visa costs: R35,083 Marketing: R17,764
Professional fees, per diems & stipends: R149,900
2020 Project Costs Accommodation, flights & visa Professional fees, per diems, materials/transport stipends Production expenses Marketing fees Project management, facilitation & reporting
35,083 149,900 31,171 17,764 84,820 318,738
Bag Factory | 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
