The third iteration of the ANNA Award is here!

The aim of the award, which is sponsored by ANNA Pure Organic, South Africa’s first locally manufactured, environmentally friendly and organic feminine hygiene product range, is to discover, recognise and nurture a new generation of women-identifying artists from the African continent and the diaspora. 

Applications for the 2024 award have just closed, bringing in a whopping 743 applications from 38 countries. This month, our selection committee will be deciding on 12 finalists and a winner, who will receive R100,000, a residency program hosted by SAFFCA, a presentation at the 2025 RMB Latitudes Art Fair, a profile on Latitudes Online, and a year's supply of ANNA products. 

We can't wait to share the incredible talent this year’s applications have brought forward. Stay tuned for the ANNA Award Top 12 Announcement, on 24 July.

 The ANNA Award winner will be announced Wednesday 7 August, in celebration of Women's Month.

Ts&Cs apply.

Swakara Atwell-Bennett is the founder and CEO of BetterShared, a leading platform for some of today's most exciting artists from Africa and the diaspora. BetterShared provides artwork on both a rental or permanent basis for hospitality and residential spaces.

Over the past five years, Swakara has supported brands and leaders of the world's largest businesses in creating more inclusive products and spaces through art. Praised for her innovation and contribution to the UK's fast-growing startup scene, Swakara has been named in TechRound’s #BAME50Under50. The Dots describe her as 'a leader with a social heart’. 

Lezanne Human's lifelong passion is to connect with objects of beauty. Although trained as a mathematician and operating as a professional in the business world (MSc in Applied Mathematics and MBA, all cum laude), she has always viewed art as her main inspiration. She is quick to tell you though that her love for art lies in the appreciation and curation thereof, and that she has zero ability to create art (in the traditional sense) herself.

Her career has been varied and colourful. From starting as an industrial engineer in a textile factory on the Cape Flats of South Africa where she optimised quality, to living in America where she helped develop an international business transformation methodology and then subsequently teaching it in Europe.  She headed up eBucks when it was a start-up, turning it into one of the top globally-recognised rewards programmes, and went on to drive turnarounds in her CEO capacity of various businesses within the FirstRand group. Her active involvement in both the bricks-and-mortar and digital worlds led to her co-founding and now being actively involved in building a new cutting-edge app-only bank in South Africa – Bank Zero. She is also on the board of the Netcare group, the most digitally advanced health care group in Africa.

Ruzy Rusike is an artist, curator and social activist. Rusike has curated local and international exhibitions:Esther Mahlangu 85, The Melrose Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa (2021); Ubuntusim Re-Enchanted, Palazzo Bembo, Venice, Italy (2019); This landscape. This landscape! The Quintessential Metaphor For Life Tribute Exhibition to David Koloane, RMB Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg, South Africa in collaboration with LL Editions (2018); Towards Intersections: Negotiating Subjects, Objects and Contexts UNISA Art Gallery, Pretoria, Museum Africa, Newtown, Johannesburg and Gordon Institute Of Business Science, Hyde Park, Johannesburg (2015). Rusike contributed an essay to catalogue: A Resilient Visionary Poetic Expressions of David Koloane (2020). She is currently working as the Head Curator at The Melrose Gallery, having previously worked at the South African Foundation For Contemporary Art (S.A.F.F.C.A) as the Head of Communication and Curator in South Africa and France and as Curatorial researcher and Exhibition co-ordinator for KAURU! in organising Towards Intersections: Negotiating Subjects, Objects and Contexts. (2015)!

Her research delves into African modernism and its impact on twentieth-century artistic and political movements. Notable projects include curating the groundbreaking virtual exhibition "Azibuyele Emasisweni - Return to the Source" in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rusike has also implemented alternative curatorial models, fostering collaborations and resource sharing in exhibitions like "A Flagrant Arcade in Contemporary Art" at the 2017 Art Africa Fair. Her ethical approach is grounded in the principle of interconnectedness, promoting collaborative efforts for impactful curatorial endeavors.

Key Jo Lee is chief of curatorial affairs and public programs at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco. Lee’s career trajectory mirrors the interdisciplinary training that she has received as an academic, curator, museum educator and administrator. Lee has a dual master’s degree in history of art and African American Studies from Yale University. In graduate school, her array of courses and multiple internships at the Yale University Art Gallery, honed her research skills and curatorial skills, as well as gained invaluable mentorship under the Gallery’s then deputy director, Pamela Franks, with whom she interned. Lee’s classroom teaching experience was enhanced by four years as a Wurtele Gallery Teacher, an endowed graduate position at the Yale University Art Gallery, which taught her to lead powerful conversations on art with many of the museum’s constituencies helping her to develop a robust and multifaceted pedagogical manner that greatly influences her curatorial approach.

In her time at the Cleveland Museum of Art (2017 – 2022), Lee initiated the Cleveland Museum of Art’s first academic affairs department and became its first Director of Academic Affairs and Associate Curator of Special Projects. She ended her tenure at the CMA as Associate Curator of American Art curating the exhibition, Currents and Constellations: Black Art in Focus, which inaugurated the museums practice of permanent gallery “interventions”. Lee’s first book, Perceptual Drift: Black Art and an Ethics of Looking, was published by the CMA and Yale University Press in January 2023, the same month she joined Museum of the African Diaspora as its inaugural chief of curatorial affairs. She also recently completed the essay, “Gesturing Towards Infinitude: Painting Blue/Black Cosmologies,” which was published in Going Dark: The Figure at the Edge of Visibility catalogue accompanying the critically acclaimed Guggenheim exhibition.

In her role at MoAD, Lee curates six to ten exhibitions annually; oversees the strategic direction and operational supervision of the exhibitions, public programs and education departments; leads globally on identifying and promoting emerging artists from the African diaspora; and works to expand MoAD’s reach and influence locally, nationally, and internationally. She plays an important role in the organization’s outreach, communications, and digital strategy.

About ANNA 

ANNA, South Africa’s first locally manufactured, environmentally friendly and organic menstrual product range is taking the lead in creating environmentally friendly sanitary products. The ANNA team believes that women who are conscious of their ecological footprint shouldn't have to compromise comfort in the process of lowering their environmental impact.

By providing environmentally conscious women with a real alternative to traditional plastic sanitary products, ANNA is empowering women to take ownership of, not only their own physical wellbeing, but the wellbeing of the environment, too.

As a cohesive, global consciousness about the environmental impact of disposable, single-use plastic products are becoming more evident, plastic-free products, such as the ANNA pure organic product range, are starting to take the frontline on the shelves of responsible retailers. The range currently consists of two ground-breaking organic products, ANNA Maxi Pads and ANNA  Liners.

Find ANNA Pure Organic Pads and Liners at the following stockists:

Ackermans. Checkers, DisChem, Faithful to Nature, Natural Options,  Pick ‘n Pay, and selected Spars.

www.annapureorganic.co.za

@annapureorganic

The artist residency is the result of an exciting partnership between Latitudes, ANNA and Southern African Foundation For Contemporary Art (SAFFCA).

Residency information

Winning artists will be invited to one of five beautiful residency locations including, Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, Sabi Sands in Mpumalanga, UNESCO World Heritage site Witklipfontein, The Entabeni Urban Farm in Knysna, Abbaye de la Cambre in Brussels and the Gallery MOMO Residency in Johannesburg. 

Please note: the location of the residency for the 2024 ANNA Award winner is subject to several considerations and will be a discussion at the time of the announcement. 

Residency offerings

Lion Sands x The MORE Family Collection Artist Residency

The MORE Family Collection in Partnership with SAFFCA has launched an artist residency program. Arising out of the earth and blending into the landscape, the award-winning Lion Sands Ivory Lodge in Sabi Sand, Mpumalanga, was inspired by its breath-taking natural surroundings. The design is both a reflection and an incorporation of the African bush, treading lightly and honoring the space it occupies on the banks of the Sabie River. The residency at the lodge serves as a gallery and studio, welcoming participants to live, work, and interact within this unique environment. Stays of up to six weeks allow individuals to draw unparalleled inspiration from the location and wildlife sightings, fostering the creation of new pieces while also providing a platform forshowcasing their work.

With the intention to promote South African art, in collaboration with SAFFCA, and nurture emerging talent, MORE Family Collection initiated the residency in 2021. The concept resonates with the desire among travellers worldwide for meaningful, immersive, and experiential experiences. Guests have the opportunity to engage with the talented residents, gaining insights into their creative processes and potentially acquiring original, collectible artwork.

“Historically, we have alwayssupported local artists,” explains MORE CEO Robert More. “Our aim with the Artist Residency is to provide them with a dedicated space to focus on their craft while connecting with an appreciative audience. For our guests, this offers an enriching and distinctive experience that enhances their stay at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge."

Witklipfontein

Witklipfontein stands as one of the original farms within The Vredefort Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In 2013, the Huyberechts Family realised their dream of owning a farm in Africa, driven by a desire to reconnect with nature and the fundamental aspects of life. Since then, they have dedicated themselves to enhancing this natural haven, establishing a bountiful vegetable garden and constructing decent housing for the workers, serving as a prototype for future residency spaces.

Encompassing 215 hectares of diverse landscapes including plains, hills, a kloof, a spruit, and dams, the farm exudes breathtakingbeauty and tranquillity, evoking a profound sense of peace and well-being. The environment evolves harmoniously with the changing seasons, transitioning from the lush greenery of summer, occasionally refreshed by gentle rains, to the dry, golden hues of winter, marked by stark light and crisp temperatures.

The studio at Witklipfontein is equipped with an array of construction tools, easels, and trestle tables for artists' use. Creatives are encouraged to explore the farm's soil for natural pigments or clay work, with the option to craft homemade paints under Michael's expert guidance. A pottery kiln is conveniently situated at the manager's house.

The residency fosters a deliberate disconnection from the frenetic pace of the outside world, with no Wi-Fi provided within the residence. However, artists are welcome to utilise their own data in designated areas to maintain connectivity. Additionally, guests are invited to indulge in a refreshing swim at the main lodge when it is unoccupied.

In essence, Witklipfontein Residence offers artists a serene and inspirational setting, nurturing a profound connection with nature and facilitating a deep exploration of their creative endeavours.

Entabeni Urban Farm Residency

In pure Knysna spirit, we are igniting a passion in art.

Greg and Lizette Barnes are the inspiration behind the concept of Entabeni Urban Farm. In their own words: ‘Our second half-century of life marks the beginning of our legacy phase. Entabeni is our opportunity to give back, serve, and create joy, meaning and fulfilment for others. We are fortunate to combine our strengths, experience and passion and create something memorable, meaningful and lasting for future generations and the community embarking on this life adventure with us.

Uganda-born Benon Lutaayawas the first artist to experience life on Entabeni Farm. His sense of hope, opportunity and optimism still lingers around every corner of Hudson Manor. He taught us that nothing is ever wasted and that everything has a place in this world. Art is often-co-created with the environment. Many artists have created artworks influenced by experiencing the devastation, destruction and hope after the Kynsna fires of 2017.

We have had the pleasure of hosting Chris Soal, Barbara Schroeder, Chrisel Attewell, Minnette Vari, Pauline Gutter, Clement Garnung, Greatjoy Ndlovu, Luc Detot, Kinelwe Makoena, Helena Hugo, Nompumelelo Vuyiswa Tshabalala, Mbongeni Fakudze Eric Chabrely, Asemahle Ntlonti, Petra Schutte, Thando Salman, Mfundo Mthiyane, Bambolwami Sibiya, Ttayob Moosa, Kyra Pape and Arina van Der Merwe.

We’re a proud member of SAFFCA.

SAFFCA.EU in Brussels Residency

The aim of this residency is for the artist to use this time in a truly special location in Brussels to inter alia experiment, develop new ideas and/or techniques, venture in new avenues and engage in multicultural conversations through the art practice. Brussels is today the most cosmopolitan city in the world after Dubai and therefore an ideal place for the latter.

Art is and has been cherished in Brussels for a long time. As you probably know, Belgium is the country which has the biggest number of artcollectors per capita in the world.

SAFFCA.EUis located in Ixelles within walking distance of many amenities and is in the centre of a strong socio-economic diversity. Furthermore some 148 languages are spoken in Ixelles.

The fabulous and historic site of the Abbey is also in a way the tip end of the forest penetrating into the city. The Abbey developments started in 1201. The area was then outside Brussels like ‘Saint Germain des Prés’ was once outside Paris.

Your residency should be a rich time of inner exploration, and we, as a team, will help the artist in whatever way we can to assist you within our limits.

The artist will be able to develop her/his art practice in her/his own studio while having many multicultural conversations around the subject of “art-making” with the other artists working in our space at that time.

The studio space and accommodation are fully provided for at : 17 Abbaye de la Cambre,1050 Bruxelles

Gallery MOMO Residency

In an exciting development, SAFFCA is proud to announce its partnership with Gallery MOMO, as they delve into the residency program together set to launch this year 2023.

Residency@MOMO was established in 2006. The residency has two spacious work areas and can accommodate three individual artists at a time. It is primarily for visiting international artists and curators across any arts discipline, including visual and performing artists, writers, and filmmakers. The residency program was founded by its neighbouring gallery to enable work and social engagement between international and South African artists, as well as to encourage experimentation and exchange. Not all residencies result directly in exhibitions or events, though some manifestation of work is encouraged, with the emphasis being on the opportunity to live, work, and connect in Johannesburg. Residencies are non-prescriptive and process-based, allowing visiting artists to develop projects in response to their new environment, or to conduct research. The residency has a Utopian philosophy that provides a ‘big space’ for art and creation.