In this writing workshop, students from Basel and Cape Town, together with invited guests (academic scholars, arts writers and independent curators) will explore how curatorial and creative fields open up new avenues for engaging with central discourses in African Studies. We will discuss how ‘reading’ and writing about contemporary African art allows accessing broader issues in African Studies (i.e. environmentalism, gender, race, colonial history). To participate, interested students are asked to submit a brief paragraph in response to an exhibition of their choice. The workshop will focus on contemporary art by African artists / artists from the diaspora but reflections on other exhibitions are welcome too i.e. exhibition of ethnographic collections. 

The workshop will adopt a hybrid format (zoom) and will take place on two days:

• On Tuesday 26 April 2022, invited guest speakers Danielle Bowler (editor and writer), Bongani Kona (PhD candidate at the University of the Western Cape, editor and writer) and Nisha Merit (independent curator)will offer insights into their practices. They offer advice for publication and respond to student questions in relation to their reflection pieces. Following this, support will be offered to students who intend to publish their piece. Time: 11-13:00 Venue: ATL Workshop, Michaelis (CT) and zoom.
• On Friday 3 June 2022, students will be offered an opportunity to discuss their work a in a public format at an event in Basel with lecturers and curators from the Centre for Curating the Archive (CT). Time: 1.00- 2.30 pm at eikones Forum, Basel and zoom (for UCT students).

The workshop is part of a collaborative project between colleagues at the University of Basel and the University of Cape Town (UCT) in response to a forthcoming exhibition commemorating the fire at the Jagger Library at UCT.

Students in the Masters’ program African Studies at the University of Basel have the option to earn one ECTS credit point via Learning contract.

Please email your reflection paragraph to Julia Rensing (julia.rensing@clutterunibas.ch) and Sindi-Leigh McBride (s.mcbride@clutterunibas.ch) by Friday 22^nd of April.