SA: Goethe-Institut Project Space announces 2024 beneficiaries

The projects were selected after an open call in July to support artistic projects in rural parts of South Africa between February and November 2024.

The grant aims to support art professionals from across South Africa who collaborate with cultural or public spaces and to engage people in areas where these spaces are located.

The four chosen projects will each receive a grant of R105 000 ($5 500) to realise their ideas between February and November 2024.

The selected projects for 2024 are:

• Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Brandfort, Free State: A broadcasting and publishing project by Chimurenga.
• ONS/GISTER/DANS: A production that speaks to the narrative of the First Nation peoples of the Richtersveld.
• Mbali Yakwa Tyefu project.
• In the manner of Country Stick Fight: An artist’s book.

“This year’s GPS jury acknowledged that there is a notable interest from artists in creating and working in rural areas, and a growing engagement with localised art practices and indigenous knowledge systems,” a joint statement from the jury, made up of three independent experts, reads.

“It is one intention of the GPS programme to embrace the richness and complexities of rural spaces and to identify and celebrate the beauty and cultures that exist in these spaces, which this year’s project proposals addressed in variant imaginative ways. The jury also positively noted that project proposals moved away from strict categories and highly valued the diverse range of ideas that were not just catering to expectations.”

Learn more about the four projects here.