(LRSpier-light-art-2024-Berco-Wilsenach-Written-in-the-stars-56)
Deadline: Submission
entries close July 21, 2025.
Call for Artists: Illuminate the night at the
8th edition of Spier Light Art 2026
Artists and designers – professionals, students or collectives – are
invited to submit expressions of interest for light-based and video artworks to
be considered for the Spier Light Art returning to the Stellenbosch wine farm
for the eighth edition in 2026.
Spier Light Art promises to once again transform the landscape with
bold, experimental and thought-provoking installations from South African
artists.
Running from March to April, the event has become a yearly celebration
of creativity – playful, provocative, reflective and inclusive. The exhibition
offers one of the largest public audiences, attracting more than 13,000
visitors in 2025.
Submission entries close July 21, 2025. The
curatorial team, led by Jay Pather and Vaughn Sadie, hosted an online briefing
on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 16h00. An on-site briefing will be held on
Saturday, July 5, at 10h30. Artists interested in attending should RSVP by
sending an email to spierlightart@lightplace.org.
The curatorial team invites submissions that place Light at the heart of
each artwork. Artists are encouraged to experiment boldly and push creative
boundaries, with a strong emphasis on innovation and cross-generational appeal.
While there is no fixed theme, the curators welcome works inspired by
the ethereal and whimsical, pieces that explore technology, engage with
contemporary issues facing South Africa, and reflect themes of resilience,
enchantment, exuberance and the dynamic environment of a working wine farm.
Installations are either completely or partially funded and the
categories of work may include the following:
-Site-specific work (designed to be displayed in particular places on
Spier Wine Farm)
-Sculptural, object-based work
-Interactive art
-Digital works that foreground technology
-Video art
SUBMISSION
REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS
Expressions of interest must include:
-Artist/collective/studio biographies of all involved (200 words)
-A short overview of the conceptual interests of the work, specifying
which category the submission falls under (300 words)
-A concise description of the work, including concept sketches (300
words)
-A description of the use of light in the work (150 words)
-A description of the audience interaction/engagement with the work, but
ideally a video (150 words)
-A provisional but realistic and well-considered budget indicating
whether it is to be funded entirely or in part by the Spier Arts Trust
-Web links to and/or images of the proposed work or, if not already
developed, examples of previous work.
Email your expression of interest to the project manager at
spierlightart@lightplace.org before July
21, 2025. A more thorough proposal may be requested after the shortlist is
announced.
ABOUT SPIER LIGHT
ART 2025
Visitors immersed themselves in a world of light, sound, and video at
the seventh edition of Spier Light Art, which took place between March and
April 2025. A diverse audience interacted with the light, sound, and video
artworks exhibited across the farm. Playful, provocative, reflective, and
engaging, the installations transformed the working wine farm into an artistic
hub buzzing with electricity.
For ideas on the type of work the Selection Committee is interested in
featuring, please refer to last year’s programme.
The Stellenbosch community and national media consistently praise Spier
Light Art for creating a safe and beautiful environment where a diverse
audience can come together to celebrate contemporary art.
For more information visit www.spierlightart.co.za
About Spier and art
Art, like food and wine, is best shared, which is why Spier is such an
enthusiastic supporter of African artists and their creations. Housing one of
the largest contemporary art collections in the country, Spier believes in the
power of the visual arts to teach and inspire, encouraging us all to engage
openly with our world and each other. With such a thriving local artistic
community and rich cultural heritage, Spier is excited about the future of
South African art.
For more information, visit www.spier.co.za