Call for MTN X UJ Future Curators Programme 2025

The MTN SA Foundation, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Art Gallery is proud to present the MTN x UJ Future Curators programme. This 10-day curatorial programme, running from 30 June – 11 July 2025, is aimed at senior high school learners in grade 10 – 12, between the ages of 15 – 18, to develop skills in visual art curation, research, public speaking, visual literacy and the sharing of information in interesting ways. The programme allows young creatives to experience the world of art collections, galleries and museums. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with art students, artists and specialists in the field of research, art collection management, curation and exhibition installation. The programme allows participants to broaden their horizons in understanding different forms of creativity and sources of information other than the internet. “Curatorial training involves the development of understanding and processing information while improving visual literacy and reading of art – enabling opportunities to develop your engagement and people skills when working with a team in managing the processes of installing and presenting unique creations and ideas. We hope to inculcate an interest in our future curators to value and continue the development of their abilities for research and documentation, communication skills, curation, organising, planning, creating and preparing them to enter the art sector with confidence,” says Niel Nortje, Art Collection Manager at MTN. Participants will experience contemporary exhibitions and collections by visiting galleries, museums and the corporate collection at the MTN Head offices. After processing these experiences, participants will be tasked with developing and researching their ideas during the planning for their own collaborative exhibition. “Since visual art curating is still a relatively young discipline, this field and all it encompasses are often not well known to young students. This programme exposes participants to all the creative and exciting possibilities curation has to offer, with the hope that it will allow our future curators to flourish,” says Dr Dineke Orton, UJ Art Gallery Curator.