Kampala Art Biennale is a showcase of contemporary art from Africa with the aim to expose, educate and create debate about the value of art in our society. They are calling all artists working in Africa to apply to partake in the first Kampala Art Biennale. Applications are now open and you are requested to apply online through their website. Application is free of charge and deadline for entries is March 31st 2014.

Theme

The first Kampala Art Biennale 2014 is themed: Progressive Africa. The theme is derived from the current Pan African – and increasingly global discussion and discourse that Africa’s economic growth and development is booming and happening right now. Popular phrases heard are: “Africa Is The Future” and “Africa Rising”,

Today…you will come across divergent conversations between different kinds of people; African with African, African with European, Indian with American, all talking about the status of Africa in the global village. Some will say Europe and the rest of the world are moving to Africa for opportunities while others will say African economies are growing into Global markets. In these conversations there is talk about which strategies are the best to accelerate Africa’s progress towards fulfilling the millennium development goals (MDGS) such as curbing poverty, improving formal education…There is increased concern from the west about increased Chinese investment on the continent…All these vibrations suggest one thing; that something is happening on the African continent whether right now as it moves into the future.

The Kampala Art Biennale 2014 is part of this discussion and is calling on African painters, photographers, illustrators, cartoonists, writers and all 2D media artists to present their perception of the current status of Africa through visual art. The verdict will result in over 100 images pro or against the purported progress, with viewers and visitors joining in on the discussion with the help of the visual aids. They believe that this will result in the questioning of African political, social and economic practices.

 The Kampala Art Biennale 2014 is set to serve as a conduit through which to start a debate about a modern and progressive Africa. They believe that the resulting juried works will create a political and social debate in the fields of art, gender, human rights, cultural practice and technology. Overarching goals:

• Exposure of Contemporary Art from Africa to Ugandans
• Exposure of Contemporary Art from Uganda to Africans
• Educate Kampala society about the value and importance of contemporary art in general
• Exchange between African artists and practitioners
• Use art to build Kampala and Uganda as a preferred tourist destination
• Use art to rebuild the creative, jubilant, celebratory spirit of Kampala

Selected work will be shipped from the artist’s country to Kampala and shown in August 2014 at one of the Biennale venues. Works will be shipped and returned after the month long exhibition at the expense of the Biennale organisation. The artist has the option to sell the work at the Biennale. An independent jury will consider all applications and compile a selection of the final 100 works, which will be announced on April 7^th 2014. Requirements / criteria for submitting artworks:

• Artist must be working in Africa.
• All submissions must be made through the online application form.
• Maximum size of original works: 1.5m²
• Only 2D artworks, no installations or sculptures (video can be submitted on request)
• All works must be related to the theme: “Progressive Africa”.
• Upload max 10 digital images (jpg, png, pdf, gif) of the artworks and mention Title, Size and Media.
• In applying for the Biennale, the artist is complying with the conditions and requirements set by the Biennale organisation.