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 worldwide. Its founders include a large number of States, schools, institutes, universities and ministries from close to 50 countries. Three of its historic founders and key partners are the City of Paris and the French Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs.
The site located at 18 rue de l’Hôtel de Ville includes 312 individual studios in the heart of the Marais district. It is a dynamic quarter swarming with art galleries and is 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 has accommodated more than 18 000 artists from all over the world.
In the early 1980's SANAVA acquired three atelier apartments at the Cité Internationale des Arts. 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 a branch 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 a few months 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 2013. 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 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 Vice President and Acting Executive Officer, 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.
Artists presently residing at the Cité
Ilka van Schalkwyk (Absa l’Atelier winner, 2010) - July 2011 to December 2011
Leslie Charnock (Art.B Gallery Bellville) - September 2011 to October 2011
Paul Birchall (Art.B Gallery Bellville) - October 2011 to November 2011
Henk Serfontein (Association of Arts Pretoria) - November 2011 to December 2011
Lala Crafford (University of Pretoria) - December 2011 to January 2012
How does an artist experience the Cité? (1.8 MB) A report by Johan Marais
