We have partnered with The BNAP Foundation to establish The DALRO Visual Arts Merit Award. This Merit Award is a unique opportunity for young South African artists to accelerate their careers and make their mark in the art world.
The DALRO Visual Arts Merit Award Winner will receive:
A year of immersive learning and creation
Our Merit Award offers a comprehensive nine-month
residency programme. The winning artist will be provided
with a working studio for nine months at Ellis House in
Johannesburg, a materials stipend, and a living stipend.
This residency runs concurrently with the BNAP Residency,
offering a rich schedule of crit-sessions, workshops, and
exhibitions throughout the year.
Your solo exhibition at the DALRO Gallery
The culmination of this journey is the artist’s first solo
exhibition, to be held at the prestigious DALRO Gallery
in Johannesburg in March 2025. This exhibition will
showcase the body of work developed over the residency,
offering a platform for the artist to share their vision with
the world.
Navigating the Art Industry with Expert Guidance
Beyond the creation of art, our programme introduces
artists to industry experts who provide invaluable assistance
in navigating the complex processes of the art industry.
This includes guidance on business registration, financial
management, preparation for the secondary market, and
working with galleries.
Who Can Apply?
The DALRO Visual Arts Merit Award is open to visual artists who meet the following criteria:
Must be between the ages of 21 to 35 years of age.
• Must be a South African citizen.
• Must be a visual artist who works with
different mediums, including but not limited
to printmaking, painting, drawing, mixed media,
and other forms of art.
• Must be based in South Africa.
• Must have never held a solo exhibition.
• Should not be represented by a gallery/artist manager.
• Must be willing to commit and avail themselves
for the full duration of their residency.
• Winning artists will be expected to attend
workshops, attend progress meetings, create a
body of work which aligns to the project proposal,
mandate DALRO once they meet the qualifying
criteria and write a detailed report at the end of
their residency.
Submission Guidelines
Artists are required to submit a SINGLE PDF document including the following information:
1. A detailed Project proposal indicating what you will be working on towards and during the residency.
2. A detailed timeline of how you will plan to execute the project.
3. A budget estimate for the proposed project.
4. Artist statement.
5. Biography.
6. Motivation letter (not more than 500 words).
7. A representative portfolio consisting of five to 10 high resolution images of artworks produced in the
past 12 months.
8. Two artworks from the portfolio must be available for an exhibition. Substantial Curriculum Vitae (CV)
with full names, references, addresses, and contact numbers.
9. A certified copy of your ID/Passport
Please make sure to send all the required documents. Incomplete applications and late
submissions will not be accepted. Insufficient documentation on your application will result in
immediate disqualification.
How to Apply
Email your application at info@bnap.co.za and CC info@blessingngobeni.com
The deadline for submissions is 29 February 2024 at 17:00 (SAST).
Selection Process
A selection committee will deliberate and select a group of finalists who will present their artworks in a group exhibition to be held at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
An award ceremony will take place at the JSE where winners of the DALRO Visual Arts Merit Award and the BNAP Residency will be announced and go on to begin their residency.
Join us in this exciting journey of artistic growth and achievement with the DALRO Visual Arts Merit Award.
The BNAP Foundation
BNAP Foundation aims to address the needs of emerging artists to be able to sustain themselves in the art industry. Our objective is to professionally incubate emerging artists through various workshops for business and creative development. We aim to promote visual arts in South Africa while encouraging international networking and learning through exchange. Our goal is to expand our program and award globally by collaborating with international art organizations. We envision the BNAP Foundation participating in art fairs and coordinating exhibitions with art galleries and other institutions to create diverse activities, exposure for visual artists, and visibility for the BNAP Award. As a Non-Profit Organisation we welcome collaborations that assist us to raise funds to ensure the sustainability of the organization.
The Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize, founded by visual artist, Blessing Ngobeni eight years ago, nurtures emerging artists under 35, specialising in various art forms. This award includes a 12-week residency in Johannesburg, studio space, materials budget, and a living stipend. The residency concludes with a solo exhibition at the Everard Read/ CIRCA Gallery in Cape Town, providing the winning artist with exposure to a broader audience. The initiative also offers access to art auctions, workshops, group exhibitions, and art fairs, fostering the growth of young artists in South Africa.
To find out more and to apply for this award visit
The Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize website