Initiated by the artist and curator Nantume Violet in 2021, Travel Somewhere Nice is an annual programme that provides invaluable opportunities for learning, networking, and trans-regional exchange within Africa and exclusively to African artists.

The programme, which prioritises practitioners based in East Africa where the contemporary art scene is currently less dynamic, exposes participants to the best and most vibrant art schools, art scenes and artists-led projects on our continent. It partners only with institutions that are committed to researching and ‘teaching from’ their local contexts, and that foster the kinds of collective creative practices that contribute to lasting social transformations.

Through a carefully curated programme of studio visits, studio crits, portfolio reviews, workshops, and tours, Travel Somewhere Nice gives its participants first-hand experience of the rich and sophisticated range of pedagogical and creative practices old and new.

The first edition of Travel Somewhere Nice was proved productive. Participating artists: Abe Gillian Stacey, Nakitende Sheila, Piloya Irene, Kyakonye Allan and Zitoni Tristan Kayonga; reflected on the first trip during a retreat. A great deal focused the non-hierarchical teaching environment between students and teachers, art education that makes a case of relevance to artistic practice, exhibition making based on cultural agency and not genius and artist’s role and responsibility in influencing and shaping consciousness of the communities.

This year’s trip to Ghana will see artists, curators and cultural producers from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania visit three cities in Ghana: Accra, Kumasi and Tamale between 8th and 16 August 2022.

The exchange program is partly hosted by the internationally renowned Fine Art Department at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology at Kumasi, Ghana, and is jointly organized by UNDER GROUND Kampala and blaxTARLINES KUMASI; in collaboration with Vodo Art Lab and Society, SCCA Tamale and Opoku Ware II Museum KNUST.

The programme lays grounds for collaborations amongst artists and art institutions in Africa and beyond. The research program addresses the crucial need for art educators to rethink art education and pedagogies. The program partners only with institutions that are committed to researching and ‘teaching from’ their local contexts, which foster the kinds of collective creative practices of artists, curators, researchers, and art educators.

Participating organizations and individuals

1. Zitoni Tristan Kayonga – Art Director Vodo Art Lab + Society, Kampala
2. Mugerwa Nicholas – Managing Director UNDER GROUND Contemporary Art, Kampala
3. Adjo Daiki Apodey Kisser – Lecturer at KNUST, member blaxTARLINES KUMASI
4. Kwaku Kisseidu – Lecturer KNUST, co-founder blaxTARLINES KUMASI
5. kąrî’kạchä seidou – Lecturer KNUST, co-founder blaxTARLINES KUMASI
6. Dorothy Akpene Amenuke – Lecturer KNUST, Founder Ofkob Artist Residency, Kumasi
7. Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi – Artist and Director, perfocraZe International Artist Residency (pAIR) Kumasi
8. Selom Kudjie – Artist and curator, SCCA Tamale Artistic Director
9. Ibrahim Mahama – Artist and Director at SCCA, Redclay Studios and Nkrumah Voli-ni, all institutions in Tamale.

UNDER GROUND Contemporary Art is an art project and space founded in 2015 in Uganda. The space focuses on research-based and collective artistic and curatorial practices realized through trans-disciplinary collaborative exhibitions and manifestations.

Vodo Art Lab + Society is an arts collective and society of artists initiated in 2018. The collective majorly engages public art and offers platforms to artists of all genres: visual art, dance, poetry, music and theatre.

blaxTARLINES, KUMASI is a project space and infrastructure that came out of the Emancipatory Art Teaching to sustain ethos of radical experimentation and transform them into long-term practice through collective movement. The team of collaborators, artistic directors and curators is a loose network of practicing artists and art professionals.

For further information regarding the project, please contact the project coordinators:
Nantume Violet
Curator, UNDER GROUND Contemporary Art
+256 (0) 700 565 339 / +256 (0) 1521 2997 868 / curator@undergroundcontemporaryart.org

Adjo Daiki Apodey Kisser
Artist and Lecture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
+233 (0) 209 936 860 / +233 (0) 241 184 136 / kisseradjo@gmail.com