The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) announce an open call for a year-long museum fellowship programme developed to educate a new generation of art and museum professionals in Africa. The Zeitz MOCAA & University of the Western Cape (UWC) Museum Fellowship Programme aims to foster the growth of curatorial practice as well as advance scholarship on contemporary art discourse from the continent.

2024 marks the third year of this pan-African programme, which endeavours to increase knowledge production around curatorial practice, arts administration and heritage management. It offers fellows exposure to museum practice facilitated by Zeitz MOCAA senior staff and is underpinned by academic rigour in art, heritage and museum scholarship facilitated by the University of the Western Cape’s Department of Historical Studies.

Zeitz MOCAA continues to position itself as a civic space – as an active agent that caters to and nurtures society. As a site for public dialogue, exhibitions, research and collection, the institution promotes narratives that are essential to the understanding of our societies. The museum is a site for the conversations, debates and storytelling that contemporary art enables. UWC is an internationally acclaimed higher education institution rooted in local political liberation histories and has established itself as a premier institution for quality education as well as a site that nurtures the growth of a future generation of thinkers. It is committed to excellence in teaching, learning and research, and to responding in critical and creative ways to the needs of a society in constant flux.

During the 12-month museum fellowship programme, fellows will engage in discourse around contemporary art, curatorial practice, art education, conservation, heritage and museology from Africa and the African diaspora. They will study and work with both institutions towards an accredited BA Honours qualification. Fellows will enrol in courses at the University of the Western Cape’s Department of Historical Studies and will also engage in discourse around contemporary art, curatorial practice, art education, conservation, heritage, and museology from Africa and the African diaspora. Fellows will gain practical work experience at Zeitz MOCAA in the Curatorial, Registrar & Collection Management, Exhibition Design, Art Education, and Institutional Advancement departments. Successful fellows will actively contribute to the research, planning, execution and management of Zeitz MOCAA projects, ranging from exhibitions, publishing and public programming to art education and fundraising.

The Zeitz MOCAA & University of the Western Cape (UWC) Museum Fellowship Programme is ideal for individuals who are interested in further developing their careers in art museums, galleries, art centres, private and public collection management, biennials, art publishing, art festivals and related fields. The programme is based in Cape Town, which is fast becoming a major global art centre. As a result, the programme will offer fellows a rich exploration of the fundamental networks and systems that contribute towards the city’s art and heritage ecosystem.

The programme covers tuition, accommodation, basic health insurance and a monthly stipend. Travel to South Africa and visa costs are not included.

The seven successful applicants will be expected to participate in the full 12-month study programme on a full-time basis from February 2025 to January 2026. Eligible applicants will preferably have a bachelor’s degree in art history, curatorial studies, political science, history, heritage or museum studies or other relevant humanities field, with a demonstrated capacity to work at a postgraduate level; knowledge of contemporary art and heritage from Africa and the African diaspora; excellent writing skills; 2-3 years of relevant work experience; citizenship of an African country; and proficiency in English.

The deadline for applications is Sunday, 30 June 2024 and successful applicants will be contacted directly by Monday, 5 August 2024. Only the first 100 applications received will be considered for review.

All applications must be completed online and required supporting documents submitted by the closing date above. Before completing the application, please read the entirety of the form to prepare all the necessary documents.

• A cover/motivation letter.
• A full CV.
• A short biography of 250 words.
• Three writing samples which include:
  I. An art event or exhibition review, no less than 500 words.
  II. A curatorial concept, no more than 250 words.
  III. A short essay, no less than 1000 words.
• A Letter of Recommendation.
• A high resolution portrait picture of yourself.
• Copies of academic certificates.

Eligible applicants must have:

1. A Bachelor’s degree in an art, heritage or museum studies or other relevant humanities field, with a demonstrated capacity to work at a postgraduate level. In exceptional cases, it is possible for deserving applicants to be admitted to postgraduate study after they have demonstrated an equivalent level of learning through work experience.
2. Knowledge of contemporary art and heritage from Africa and the African Diaspora.
3. Excellent writing skills.
4. Interest and/ experience in an art-related career.
5. 2-3 years of relevant work experience.
6. Citizenship of an African country.
7. Proficiency in English.
8. Successful applicants will be expected to participate in the full 12-month programme on a full-time basis starting February 2025 to January 2026.

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