22 September 2022

Absa proudly supports our continent’s fearless creators, who capture the world’s attention with their distinct and diverse styles.

For 36 years, Absa, in partnership with the South African National Association for the Visual Arts, has hosted one of Africa’s most prestigious art competitions – the Absa L’Atelier. In addition to the Absa Art Gallery within the Absa Head Office precinct in Johannesburg’s central business district, Absa’s virtual Art Hot Spot platform allows audiences to experience arts and culture content that was traditionally only available through gallery visits.

Another of Absa’s strategic focus areas is to enhance access to education and employability, and to nurture the next generation of creative professionals. Absa supports students studying at Artist Proof Studio (APS), an innovative and engaged community printmaking centre of excellence operating in Houghton, Johannesburg. Over the past 30 years, APS has grown into one of the largest and most vibrant professional printmaking facilities in Southern Africa, hosting, publishing and providing print edition facilities and collaborative project opportunities. APS focuses on all aspects of professional printmaking: creation, sales, training and community engagement. APS’s professional printmaking studio is made up of a team of master printers with over 30 years’ experience in etching, linocuts, screen prints, lithography and other techniques. These master printers work with established artists to assist them with the technical and specialised printmaking process.

APS graduate and alumni artists are proudly represented through APS at art fairs, as well as renowned art galleries throughout South Africa and internationally. Artworks produced at APS are shown and sold through APS and partner galleries, and showcased and sold through an online store.

APS is accredited with the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA). Through its four-year qualification, comprising training in drawing, visual studies, art history and printmaking, its graduates are better positioned to become leading art practitioners in the market.

Absa proudly supports talented young artists studying with APS through the provision of eight scholarships for their final year of study in 2022.

As a centre of printmaking excellence, APS attracts opportunities to collaborate with prominent artists who work with its team of experienced printers to create exciting print editions. Winifrid Luena, Absa L’Atelier 2019 Ambassador from Tanzania, has been the most recent artist to collaborate with APS on his first solo exhibition, which opened in the Absa Gallery and on the Absa Art Hot Spot on 4 August 2022.