University of Johannesburg Artists in Residence Programme – Johannesburg, South Africa

Academic Artist Residency with Monthly Stipend for Practice-Based Research

Overview

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Artists in Residence Programme represents South Africa’s premier academic residency initiative, fostering arts practice as research since 2022. This competitive 12-24 month programme targets artist-academics across seven creative disciplines, offering monthly stipends to emerging and established practitioners—preferably with African connections—to develop creative output projects meeting higher education research standards. With both physical and remote residency options available at one of Africa’s top-ranked universities, the programme bridges artistic innovation with scholarly rigor, positioning UJ as the pan-African epicenter of critical creative inquiry.

Programme Mission & Academic Framework

UJ’s residency differs fundamentally from traditional artist programmes by emphasizing practice-led research within an academic context. The initiative recognizes artistic creation as legitimate scholarly output, supporting practitioners who approach their work with intellectual depth, critical engagement, and research methodologies.

Core Objectives:

• Elevate arts practice to recognized academic research status
• Support artist-academics developing substantial creative projects
• Foster innovation across diverse artistic disciplines
• Build Africa’s creative research capacity through international exchange
• Meet Department of Higher Education standards for creative outputs
• Enrich UJ’s academic profile as a global center of artistic excellence
• Create opportunities for artists bridging practice and scholarship

This framework suits practitioners comfortable articulating their work within academic discourse while maintaining artistic integrity and experimental freedom.

University of Johannesburg Context

UJ’s Global Standing:

• Ranked in top 4% globally (QS World Class Universities Ranking)
• 61st position in QS BRICS World Class Universities Ranking
• Recognized as international university of choice
• Vibrant, cosmopolitan institution with global reach
• Commitment to becoming pan-African epicenter of critical intellectual inquiry

Johannesburg Advantages:

South Africa’s economic and cultural powerhouse offers residents:

• Africa’s most dynamic contemporary art scene
• Major museums, galleries, and cultural institutions
• Diverse creative communities across multiple districts
• Thriving academic and intellectual environment
• Continental connectivity and international airport hub
• Rich cultural complexity reflecting South Africa’s history

Programme Track Record

Since 2022 Launch: Sixteen accomplished artists have completed residencies developing groundbreaking projects:

First Cohort Residents:

• Brenton Maart
• Mbuso Ndlovu
• Mai Al Shazly
• Jaun Orantia
• Yazeed Kamaldien
• Lindiwe Matshikiza
• Sonya Rademeyer
• Kagiso Kekana
• Jamil Khan

Second Cohort Residents:

• Carol-Ann Davids
• Pieter Bezuidenhout
• Mike Van Graan
• Lucy Strauss
• Dean Hutton
• Shane Cooper
• Sabelo Mthembu

Project Diversity: Past residents have developed bio-art investigations, music compositions, novellas, documentaries, theatre productions, and multimedia installations—demonstrating the programme’s interdisciplinary breadth and creative ambition.

Eligible Disciplines

The UJ multidisciplinary residency welcomes artist-academics across seven fields:

Visual Arts and Fine Arts: Painting, sculpture, installation, photography, printmaking, new media, conceptual art, experimental practices

Music: Composition, performance, sound art, musicology, experimental music, cross-cultural collaborations

Theatre: Playwriting, directing, devising, scenography, dramaturgy, experimental theatre

Performance and Dance: Choreography, performance art, contemporary dance, traditional forms, interdisciplinary performance

Design: Graphic design, product design, spatial design, interaction design, design research

Film and Television: Documentary, fiction, experimental film, video art, television production, screen theory

Literary Arts: Fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, playwriting, hybrid forms, literary experimentation

All disciplines must produce work meeting Department of Higher Education’s Creative Outputs Implementation Guidelines—ensuring projects achieve recognized scholarly standards.

Residency Duration & Structure

Standard Residency: 12-month period for most disciplines

Extended Option: 24-month residencies available specifically for:

• Film and Television projects requiring extended production timelines
• Literary Arts (novels, substantial manuscripts, complex editorial processes)

Residency Format Options:

Physical Residency: On-campus presence at UJ’s Johannesburg facilities

• Access to offices, studios, rehearsal spaces, performance venues (limited availability—early application recommended)
• Integration with UJ’s academic community
• Participation in departmental activities, seminars, and events
• Proximity to Johannesburg’s art scene and cultural resources

Remote Residency: Work from your current location while affiliated with UJ

• Maintain existing commitments while benefiting from institutional support
• Virtual engagement with UJ community
• Flexibility for international artists or those with geographic constraints
• Same stipend and academic affiliation benefits

Both formats require completion of at least one creative output project meeting higher education research criteria within the residency timeframe.

Financial Support & Stipend

Monthly Stipend: R10,000 per month (approximately $550 USD) subject to statutory tax deductions

Duration: Full 12 or 24 months depending on project scope

Total Programme Value:

• 12-month residency: R120,000 (~$6,600 USD total)
• 24-month residency: R240,000 (~$13,200 USD total)

Important Limitations:

This stimulus-focused programme provides basic financial support but does NOT cover:

• Project materials or production costs
• Travel expenses (international or domestic)
• Accommodation (for international or non-Johannesburg residents)
• Per diems or living expenses beyond stipend
• Equipment purchases or rentals
• Exhibition, performance, or publication costs

Artists must budget independently for all production needs, making this programme best suited for practitioners with:

• Existing institutional support or additional funding sources
• Low-overhead creative practices
• Ability to self-fund materials and logistics
• Remote working capacity (if choosing remote residency)

Eligibility Requirements

Academic Qualifications: Applicants must hold relevant post-school qualification (diploma, degree, or equivalent professional certification in their discipline)

Institutional Status: No current affiliations with other South African tertiary institutions—this ensures UJ’s exclusive academic partnership during the residency

Geographic Preference: While global applications are welcome, preference given to artists with African connections through:

• African nationality or heritage
• Previous work on the continent
• Thematic engagement with African subjects
• Collaborative relationships with African institutions or communities
• Commitment to contributing to pan-African creative discourse

Professional Standing: Open to both emerging and established artists demonstrating:

• Strong career track record in their discipline
• Consistent productivity and output history
• Academic writing experience or scholarly engagement
• Intellectual rigor in approach to creative practice

Application Requirements & Process

2026 Programme Deadline: 31 July 2025 at 17:00 (South African time)

Application Portal: https://form.jotform.com/251602138430042

Required Submission Components:

Career Documentation:

• Comprehensive CV demonstrating professional trajectory
• Portfolio of previous creative work
• Evidence of academic writing or scholarly engagement
• Professional references or recommendations

Residency Proposal:

• Detailed project description and objectives
• Research questions or creative inquiry framework
• Methodology and working process
• Timeline for completion within 12 or 24 months
• Explanation of how project meets Department of Higher Education creative output standards
• Statement of significance and contribution to field
• Budget outline (demonstrating feasibility within stipend constraints)

Academic Context:

• Articulation of practice-as-research approach
• Theoretical frameworks informing the work
• Intended scholarly outcomes (publications, presentations, exhibitions with critical documentation)

Format Preference:

• Indication of physical or remote residency choice
• If physical: space requirements (office, studio, rehearsal room, performance venue)

Additional Information Sessions:

UJ offers virtual information-sharing sessions for prospective applicants:

Session Dates (2026 Programme):

• 25 June 2025
• 2 July 2025

Led by: Pieter Jacobs, Head of Division of Arts & Culture

Session Benefits:

• Detailed programme overview and expectations
• Guidance on application preparation
• Clarification of creative output standards
• Opportunity to ask questions directly
• Insights into selection criteria and process

Selection Criteria & Process

Competitive Academic Review: UJ employs rigorous scholarly evaluation examining:

Artistic Excellence: Quality, innovation, and distinctiveness of creative work

Career Trajectory: Demonstrated productivity, professional development, and increasing recognition

Academic Engagement: Evidence of critical thinking, theoretical engagement, and scholarly writing capacity

Proposal Quality:

• Clarity and feasibility of research questions
• Appropriateness of methodology
• Realistic timeline and resource planning
• Significance of proposed contribution
• Alignment with Department of Higher Education standards

Intellectual Merit: Depth of conceptual framework and potential to advance creative knowledge

Only candidates meeting high academic and professional standards will be selected—this is not a grant-based programme but an academic appointment requiring scholarly rigor.

Department of Higher Education Standards

All residency projects must produce creative outputs meeting official guidelines established by South Africa’s Department of Higher Education. These standards ensure:

• Work contributes meaningfully to knowledge in the field
• Projects demonstrate research methodology and critical inquiry
• Outputs are publicly accessible (exhibitions, performances, publications, screenings)
• Documentation supports scholarly dissemination
• Outcomes undergo peer review or professional validation

Reference Document: Department of Higher Education’s Creative Outputs Implementation Guidelines (applicants should review this before applying)

Programme Contact & Inquiries

Primary Contact:
Alexander Makhubu
Email: alexjm@uj.ac.za
Phone: +27 11 559 4674

General Residency Email: air@uj.ac.za

Application Portal: https://form.jotform.com/251602138430042

Contact the Arts & Culture Division with questions regarding eligibility, application requirements, or programme specifics before the July 31 deadline.

Why Choose UJ Artists in Residence?

This academic artist residency in South Africa offers unique advantages:

• Monthly stipend (R10,000) providing financial stability for 12-24 months
• Academic affiliation with top-ranked African university
• Practice-as-research framework elevating artistic work to scholarly status
• Flexible formats: physical or remote residency options
• Johannesburg location: Africa’s leading contemporary art center
• Established track record since 2022 with sixteen successful residents
• Interdisciplinary community across seven creative disciplines
• Career advancement through academic validation of creative practice
• Pan-African focus connecting continental and global artists
• Long duration (12-24 months) for substantial project development
• Professional development through scholarly engagement and critical discourse

Considerations for Applicants

Best Suited For:

• Artist-academics comfortable with research frameworks
• Practitioners with independent funding for materials/production
• Those seeking academic affiliation and scholarly validation
• Artists developing conceptually rigorous, research-based projects
• Remote workers who can maximize stipend without relocating
• Emerging artists building academic credentials
• Established artists transitioning into academic contexts

Less Suitable For:

• Artists requiring significant material funding
• Those seeking fully-funded travel and accommodation
• Practitioners uncomfortable with academic discourse
• Projects needing extensive equipment or production budgets
• Artists seeking purely commercial or market-driven outcomes

Experience South Africa’s leading academic residency programme, where artistic excellence meets scholarly rigor in one of the continent’s most dynamic creative and intellectual environments.