The South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA)
Cité Internationale des Arts
18, rue de l’Hôtel de Ville, 75180 PARIS CEDEX 04The Cité Internationale des Arts is intended to provide a sojourn of limited duration to professional artists who wish to develop their artistic skills in France. The Cité Internationale des Arts is a foundation directed to the public benefit since 1957. It is related to a vast network of partners and associates. Its founders include a large number of States, schools, institutes, universities and ministries from close to 50 countries all across the world. Three of its historic founders and key partners are the City of Paris, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The site located at 18 rue de l’Hôtel de Ville includes 270 individual workshops in the heart of the Marais district, is a dynamic quarter swarming with art galleries and a favourite destination for Parisians. Residents may practice their artistic discipline and develop their creative techniques for the duration of their stay at the Cité Internationale des Arts. The complex also houses exhibition areas where artists can display their works and an auditorium where they can perform concerts. Since its opening in 1965, the Cité Internationale des Arts has accommodated more than 18 000 artists from all over the world.
In the early 1980s SANAVA acquired three atelier apartments at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France. These assets are held in trust in terms of an Occupational Rights Agreement by the SANAVA Cité des Arts Trust, valid until 22 March 2060. The atelier apartments were acquired for the benefit of South African visual artists who, before applying for occupation, should have been members of the Association for at least the two immediately preceding years. The apartments create golden opportunities for those who had already shown proof of their artistic merit to spend some time in Paris, to enrich their lives while living and working in a world metropolis, known for its cultural richness, and to experience the cultures of, and interact with artists from all over the world.
Please note: Presently, the studios are fully booked till early 2012. In view of the fact that personal circumstances of applicants may change over a period, applications and portfolios are not referred to the Cité earlier than 12 to 14 months before the desired period of sojourn. Applications have to be channelled through the branch of which an artist is a member to the Head Office of SANAVA. The National President, Mr Anton Loubser, personally attends to bookings. To assist applicants in planning their calendar, he normally agrees to ‘pencil in’ the wishes of prospective applicants up to about two years earlier. You may wish to contact him on 012 460 5826 to discuss the availability of accommodation, your time preference and liberty to accept a time-slot that may become available due to a possible cancellation.
How does an artist experience the Cité? (1.8 MB) A report by Johan Marais
The following South African artists are currently at the Cité
The winner of the 2009 Absa l'Atelier Competition: Stephen Rosin
Jean le Roux (member of the South African society of artists)
Tshepo Molusi (chairman of the Northern Cape Visual Arts and Crafts Forum)
