Call for artists to apply for UJ residence programme

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Artists in Residence Programme is inviting emerging and established artists to submit proposals.

UJ’s new programme aims to advance arts-practice as research, and is open for applications from artists across the globe, but preferably with a connection to Africa.

Artists working in one or a combination of visual arts and fine arts, music, theatre, performance and dance, design, film and television, and literary arts are eligible to apply for physical and remote residencies.

Applications need to be accompanied by a letter of endorsement from a host department or division at the University of Johannesburg.

The letter of support should include an overview of the role the department will play in the collaboration, and should reflect on the enabling environment it will offer. The programme is open to once-off and multi-year projects set for completion by no later than the end of 2024.

Artists in residence will be remunerated, and in addition to developing a substantial creative project, will be required to prepare creative output submissions for projects as outlined by the Department of Higher Education, in cooperation with their host department or division at the university. Depending on the nature of residencies, additional administrative and other resources such as office, studio and rehearsal space may be availed to projects.

The closing date for applications is 18 March, and residencies start from 1 May. Application may be submitted on https://form.jotform. com/220392606069052; and for inquiries email pjacobs@uj.ac.za.

Mantsoe created his own dance company, Association Noa in France in 2005, but he returns to SA frequently to continue his multicultural dialogues.

His work includes a fusion of street dance from his childhood with traditional and contemporary dance styles. Spirituality and the cultural influences of African, Aboriginal, Asian, contemporary and ballet traditions are important influences of his work.

Joburg Theatre producer Lindiwe Lekasapa said they are excited to celebrate this milestone of their diamond jubilee of storytelling with a year-long production calendar that features world-class shows such as SoliiDaD.

“It fits well to our 60th celebration within the arts. We are delighted to stage a South Africanborn dancer who creates his figures inspired by the traditions of his ancestors,” she said.

SoliiDaD is a quest to an emperor’s elegant path to oblivion, a piece that resembles birds taking flight, lions prey, howling dogs in the distance, winds, and dust to a silent storm.

A slavish imitation of a great monk’s journey, conversing the narratives on the path to a roaring, hissing torrent of oblivion, a permanent attitude behind changing expressions in thought and action, precious veils saturated with one foot forward.

This production takes patrons on a journey to march; breathe; listen; see; speak to the patient waves of murmuring heat, sweat stinging eyes of a path one has never been to before, yet it seems strangely familiar.

This dance piece has been scheduled to take place in the Lesedi Theatre from 17 to 20 March.

For more information visit the website www.joburgtheatre.com.