Cape Town's young Emerging Artists Shine at Comic Con

02 May 2025

The City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development Department  proudly supported 10 young artists to showcase their talent at Comic Con Cape Town 2025 earlier this week. Artists had to complete a training programme which helped them to prepare to exhibit their creations at the event.

 The Emerging Artists Programme supports artists by providing them with opportunities to help them develop their skills, show their work, and earn an income. In March and April this year, the 10 artists from communities across the City were selected to take part in a workshop series to prepare them to exhibit at Comic Con Cape Town.

 
‘Art is a powerful tool  to express, learn and share and we are delighted to see the enthusiasm for the artists who completed the training. Through this programme, we’re not only creating platforms for young artists to thrive, but we’re also contributing to a unique and inclusive, creative arts sector in the City of Cape Town. The  Emerging Artists Programme creates spaces for peer-to-peer learning and networking among artists and the City will continue to provide support, ’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
 
The workshops focused on creating original work inspired by pop culture, their history and their community, and creating products for merchandise at the Cape Town Comic Con.
 
The programme consisted of training(14 days), a production phase(four days) and a post-production phase of seven days.
 
The four day production workshop covered topics such as  branding tips, explored typography, composition basics, and colour psychology, before wrapping up with the importance of research and  reference, and clarity in design.
 
During the programme, artists had the opportunity to learn and improve character development, illustration, screen printing, pricing, marketing, sales and merchandise production. 
 
Participating artists were further assisted by facilitators, in preparation for Comic Con, through the review of their artwork, focussed feedback and ongoing support.
 
The following artists participated in the programme:
 
Clyde Shannon Gelderbloem
Multi-talented creative and entrepreneur
 
Sihle Kakana
Digital abstract artist
 
Athenkosi “Unami” Maqubela
Interdisciplinary artist
 
Conway October
Multidisciplinary artist
 
Kristin
Ink illustrator and graphic designer
 
Phakamani Thembela
Shoe maker and designer
 
Nsama Wisdom Chishimba
Character design and illustration
 
Prismond Mokakola
Visual artist
 
Raeez Hoosain
Visual artist and multi-media designer
 
Xolisa Tamarana
Graphic designer and illustrator 
 
 
 End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office