DALRO ビジュアル・アーツ・メリット・アワード（VAMA）2026

The DALRO Visual Arts Merit Award (VAMA) 2026 is a career‑accelerating competition presented by DALRO in partnership with Bag Factory Artists’ Studios, LL Editions and William Humphreys Art Gallery. It targets emerging South African visual artists aged 18‑35 who are not represented by a gallery or manager, hold an arts qualification or related training, and have not previously held a solo exhibition. Applicants must be South African citizens based in South Africa and must not have previously received a prize from DALRO, Bag Factory, LL Editions or WHAG. The competition invites one entry per artist, consisting of a biography, CV, artist statement, portfolio, ID copy, motivation letter and project proposal. The top ten finalists will exhibit at DALRO in Johannesburg and attend professional development workshops. The winner will receive a 12‑month residency—six months at Bag Factory and six months at LL Editions—providing accommodation, materials, a living stipend, mentorship, progress meetings and peer critique, with the opportunity to adapt work into limited‑edition lithographs and a solo exhibition at Bag Factory. The runner‑up will receive an eight‑week residency at WHAG in Kimberley with similar support. The award is free to apply and closes on 4 September 2026.

Accommodation, materials, living stipend, mentorship, progress meetings, peer critique, exhibition opportunities

Applicants must be 18–35, South African citizens based in South Africa, not represented by a gallery or manager, hold an arts qualification or related training, have not previously held a solo exhibition, and must work in eligible media (painting, drawing, photography, textiles, tapestries, small‑scale sculpture, video/mixed‑media installations).