Art Periodic South Africa (A°P), in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and with Latitudes Online as Strategic and Media Partner, is proud to announce the selection of the independent curatorial committee for the South African Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia (2026).
This edition marks the beginning of a new public-private partnership model designed to secure South Africa’s presence in Venice through transparency, continuity, and sector collaboration. The structure balances curatorial independence with public accountability, aligning with best practices used by national pavilions in the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, and Australia.
Exceptional sector response to the Open Call
Following the public launch of the curatorial Open Call on 7 November, the Pavilion received 67 eligible applications in just two weeks. This remarkable response demonstrates the strength, ambition, and unity of the South African visual arts sector and confirms the critical importance of ensuring a robust and representative presence in Venice.
Curatorial Selection Committee
The independent Curatorial Selection Committee is responsible for reviewing all eligible submissions and selecting the curatorial team that will represent South Africa in 2026.
Committee Members
Professor Nomusa Makhubu
Professor of Art History and Visual Culture at the University of Cape Town. Founder of Creative Knowledge Resources and internationally recognised scholar on African art, photography, and social justice. Makhubu co-curated a previous South African Pavilion and has received major awards from ACLS, ASA, and Harvard University.
Molemo Moiloa
Director of Andani.Africa, co-founder of Open Restitution Africa, and a leading voice in cultural policy, knowledge justice, and community-driven cultural practice. Moiloa has worked widely across Africa to reimagine ethical governance within cultural institutions.
Tumelo Mosaka
Independent curator with extensive international experience. Former curator at the Brooklyn Museum New York and the Krannert Art Museum in Illinois USA. Mosaka has curated exhibitions across Europe, Africa, and the United States with a focus on global contemporary practice and African diasporic narratives.
Sean O’Toole
Writer, editor, critic, and educator whose work has shaped public and scholarly discourse around contemporary South African art. His texts appear internationally in key art journals, catalogues, and publications. O’Toole brings a critical curatorial literacy framing local work within global perspectives.
Dr. Greer Valley
Curator and researcher affiliated with the University of Cape Town’s Archive and Public Culture Initiative. Former Dak’Art Biennale selection committee member and Getty Foundation MAHASSA Fellow. Valley specialises in curatorial approaches to African colonial histories and institutional critique.
Committee members were invited based on:
– Representation across universities, museums, writing, research and independent practice
– International and Biennale-specific experience ensuring alignment with global standards
– Regional and methodological diversity reflecting South Africa’s artistic ecosystem
– Independence and conflict-free assessment, supported by external verification procedures
This balance ensures rigorous evaluation of proposals through artistic, conceptual, technical, ethical, and international lenses.
Evaluation framework and verification
Each proposal will be assessed individually using a structured scoring matrix across six categories:
- Artistic and Curatorial Vision
- Relevance to South Africa
- International Resonance
- Feasibility
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Legacy Potential
Independent external monitors will verify the process and scores.
The committee will serve only for the 2026 cycle, rotating each edition to prevent long-term consolidation of influence and allow evolving representation over time.
Next Milestones
Final selection of curatorial team: 8 December 2025
Public announcement: 6 January 2026
Concept submission to Biennale: 10 January 2026
Catalogue submission: 19 January 2026
Press materials: 13 February 2026
Vernissage: 6–8 May 2026
