Founded in 1991 with the generous and visionary support of Mr. Loder (from London) the Bag Factory Artists’ Studios has been an important nest for African visual artists, providing them with studio space and an opportunity to network with other artists, both locally and internationally. Its revolutionary residency programme has seen almost 200 artists from around the world visit the studio space.
SAFFCA continues to work with The Bag Factory Artists’ Studios on a partnership that will see the inception of many exciting programmes as Pierre Lombart sits on the board and actively engages with The Bag Factory Artists’ Studios in their everyday procedures.
The Foundation invites annually final year students in Fine Arts or History of Art at one of the universities of our region to submit their CV’s and motivations to spend nine months overseas as the front face of SAFFCA in St Emilion. During this stay, the laureate is able to do research or prepare for a post graduate thesis while meeting many global Art Aficionados and Art Fundi’s. Once in the heart of Europe she or he is able to spend time in the various capitals, visit their outstanding art offerings, and begin to develop a personal network.
SAFFCA publishes books. The first one, “For the love of being…” has been completed and others will follow. Inter alia and through the foundation’s publications, the Commissions Program, the Residency Program and the developments in The Bag Factory adventure will be documented.Furthermore, SAFFCA has started the process to publish a Biography of Patrick Kagiso Mautloa.
SAFFCA actively maintains its website for an easy worldwide access and produces its various publications out of Johannesburg.
After having received the New York’s Guggenheim in March 2015, and recently the Director and Curator at Large of Documenta 2017, SAFFCA will continue its role as one of the ambassadors of Southern African Art and welcome the various museums, international organisations and foundations coming to the southern part of the African continent.
SAFFCA invites art collectors to join its initiative by entrusting the Foundation to facilitate access to some of their works. SAFFCA will document and publish these works on the website and in some of its publications. This would enable Southern African Art Collectors to share their privilege while developing the « provenance » of these works. They would join the SAFFCA collection while remaining privately owned. SAFFCA organises and manages the loans to exhibitions of these works internationally if and when requested with the owner’s blessing. SAFFCA could over time undoubtedly develop and manage the most representative Art Collection of the region.
Through its website, SAFFCA will keep its followers informed of most local happenings in the Art-World as well as of the achievements and appearances of the Southern African artists globally. The foundation will furthermore keep up to date the Curriculum Vitae of most of the artists in its collection.
SAFFCA publishes monthly on the website and by email to its targeted audience an in depth approach of a specific work.
Annually two to three artists from the Southern part of Africa are selected and invited within the residency program to work for some months in Saint Emilion. During their residency they are able to visit some of the amazing cities of Europe. This residency program will work in parallel with the residency program of The Bag Factory. They will perhaps even be documented together. Some of the artists sent to Saint Emilion are from the pool of artists working from The Bag Factory at the time.
SAFFCA publishes an electronic semi-annual journal on the website. In addition,this journal is emailed to all of its followers locally and globally and its specific targeted audience.
Within three to five years, once the identified “Bag Factory” project has been completed, SAFFCA will develop its own space and home in Johannesburg. This space will be able to exhibit its privately owned permanent collection and welcome some specifically themed exhibitions under the guidance of local or international curators.
Within a year or two, SAFFCA will develop its branding through a dignified presence to some of the art-fairs flogged by art lovers globally.
A comprehensive and visual record of the entire collection is permanently accessible and updated on the website enhanced by more curatorial info on some specific works.
From 2016 SAFFCA will donate on behalf of all of its sponsors an annual award to a specifically selected artist of the Region.