'The Emerging Artists Programme is a City initiative aimed at assisting under-resourced emerging artists based in Cape Town to access opportunities and build capacity. It focusses primarily on artists who’ve not had the benefit of resources, training and exposure as a result of historic inequality and under-development,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.

The free programme has a capacity building training component that will give artists the opportunity to showcase their work as the near month long programme concludes with an exhibition.

'During the early stages of their careers, artists often face financial stress and struggle to access resources. This programme will give artists the necessary tools and the practical skills to help them leverage opportunities. This is a pilot incubation programme with possible continuing opportunities,' said Councillor Badroodien.

The artist training programme will start at the end of May and will consist of sector-specific workshops and excursions.

Workshop themes to be covered:

• Introduction to the arts: A broad overview of the Arts sector in South Africa
• From Studio to Gallery: An in-depth workshop designed to evaluate and build capacities of artists to access and leverage opportunities
• Emerging Artist Exhibition: This workshop will be a practical implementation of the skills acquired to develop and implement an exhibition
• Education excursions to cultural spaces located in Cape Town

If you are a practising emerging visual artist and would like to participate in the capacity building programme, focusing on understanding the process of and getting ready to exhibit your work, you can apply for the possible selection to the Emerging Artists Capacity Building Programme: Getting Exhibition Ready.

The programme will take place on Fridays and Saturdays and all sessions are compulsory. The programme is free.