Critical Art Writing Workshop in Johannesburg

The ARAK Collection is inviting you to an intensive three-day Critical Art Writing Workshop during the Latitudes Art Fair, which will run from Friday, 24th May until Sunday, 26th May, 2024.

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The workshop will be facilitated by Ashraf Jamal.

As a collaborative initiative of the ARAK Collection and Latitudes Online, the mainobjective is to produce a 1000–1200-word essay/review of an overall impression ofthe art fair or an assessment of artworks, or a booth. The purpose is to reflect thezeitgeist i.e., what the fair and or its chosen dealership or specific events/talksprogram signify.

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The purpose of the workshop is to provide an interactive thinking/writingenvironment for gifted and ambitious art writers and cultural analysts, and todeepen a local, regional, continental and global understanding of art from Africa.The essays will be completed on the last day and will be promptly published on theLatitudes Online platform.

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Requirements:

Participants are required to bring their own laptops (with chargers) for theworkshop, as well as smartphones for photographing exhibits and recordingstakeholder interviews. Notepads and pens will be provided.

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Each day, participants will create a visual diary and reflective notes, which willinform their final essay. Photocopied reading materials will be provided ahead ofthe workshop, to be annotated and discussed during class sessions.

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The daily schedule (24, 25 and 26 May 2024) will include:

1. Discussion of various texts on writing.

2. Group and/or independent visits to exhibitions and talks programmes.

3. Reporting back, discussing insights, and consolidating ideas.

On the last day, participants will be required to submit their complete edited essays (1000-1200 words) for prompt publication on Latitudes Online and Arakcollection.com.

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Application process and deadline:

Interested applicants (SA residents only) are invited to submit an art writing sample of max 500 words to workshop@arakcollection.com

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Deadline for submissions:

Monday, April 29th, 2024.