If you are a young aspiring artist looking to gain exposure and experience then don’t miss your opportunity to apply for the City’s Emerging Artist Programme.

Now in its 6th year, this programme creates opportunities for visual artists providing mentorship, skills development and exhibition opportunities for around 200 emerging artists each year — the vast majority youth.

Through our partnership with the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, we showcase four of these emerging artists annually — and in recent editions, those artists have sold out. Proving that when you build pathways, young people will take them.

The call for participation in 2026 is currently open, and will close on 13 February. The programme is for early-career artists who are seeking practical skills, mentorship and exhibition experience – only 25 slots are available.

An exhibition to showcase the artwork will be held in May. The exhibition is an opportunity for the participants to put into practice what they have learnt during the training and offers an opportunity to sell their artwork.

For more information on the Emerging Artists programme please visit: https://www.capetown.gov.za/Explore%20and%20enjoy/Arts-and-culture/artists-programme/emerging-artist-programme

To apply, please email: emerging@capetown.gov.za

The Arts Aweh! programme is a free creative after-school programme for learners aged 5 to 17, offering a range of activities including drawing, painting, photography, hip hop, dance, performance, poetry, clay and beading.

This programme is incredibly popular, with 64 819 engagements recorded for the period November 2024 to June 2025. During that period, 3 173 learners participated at 13 facilities and the programme created 36 employment opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme. 

This year’s  programme started at various venues in Mfuleni, Pelican Park, Hanover Park and Athlone on 8 January, and has already reached more than 2000 young people. Additional venues will be added in the coming months, with the programme concluding on 26 May 2026.

Participants can attend the programme from Mondays to Fridays between 14:00 and 17:00. The programme is free, and participants are supplied with all material and art supplies.

Upon completion of the programme, artwork will be exhibited at various City facilities.

‘Arts programmes like these give young people safe spaces to learn, express themselves and build confidence through creativity. We have seen great appetite in the past for these  programmes, and I’m hoping this year will be no different. I encourage learners and aspiring young artists to make the most of these platforms, and I am looking forward to seeing their creations at the exhibitions stage,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.

For information on the Arts Aweh! Programme contact Aleeyah.Baker@capetown.gov.za