57th AICA International Congress
Re-imagining the Global South: Art, Gender and Identity
University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa,
October 27-31, 2025
In 1973, Mobutu Sese Seko, the former president of Zaire, hosted the only AICA International Congress ever held on African soil. Nearly 50 years later, the tide has turned. The global movement for the reappropriation of African art is now unstoppable, driven by civil society. In this symbolic and powerful moment, AICA International’s 57th Congress will take place in democratic South Africa, marking 30 years since the fall of apartheid.
Papers will be presented in person, at the University of Johannesburg. The working language of the Congress will be English. We look forward to welcoming you to Johannesburg.
DRAFT PROGRAMME:
Papers will be presented in person, at the University of Johannesburg. The working language of the Congress will be English. We look forward to welcoming you to Johannesburg.
MONDAY 27 OCTOBER - EVE OF THE CONGRESS
Arrival of speakers, guests and AICA members.
8 pm: Welcome Meeting at GARDEN COURT MILPARK HOTEL
Cnr. Owl & Empire Roads, Auckland Park, 2017 Johannesburg.
TUESDAY 28 OCTOBER - CONGRESS DAY 1
FADA Building, Bunting Road Campus, University of Johannesburg.
17 Bunting Rd, Auckland Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yZcdUxYczSKmoRvdA
9 am – 1 pm: Registration
9:30 am: Welcome Speeches
10 am – 11 am: Keynote Speaker Fadzai Muchemwa & discussion
11 am – 11:20 am: Coffee Break
11:20 am – 1 pm: UNESCO artists round-table with Syowia Kyambi, Georgina Maxim, Usha Seejarim, Gladys Kalichini & discussion
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm: LUNCH BREAK
2:30 pm – 5:30 pm: AICA General Assembly
6:00 pm: AICA AWARDS (FADA Auditorium)
Award Reception – Dinner at the UJ School of Tourism and Hospitality,
Bunting Road Campus https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/college-of-business-and-economics/schools/school-of-tourism-and-hospitality-sth/
WEDNESDAY 29 OCTOBER - CONGRESS DAY 2
FADA Building, Bunting Road Campus, University of Johannesburg
17 Bunting Rd, Auckland Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yZcdUxYczSKmoRvdA
9:30 – 10:50 am: UNESCO critics/academics/curators round-table" with Serubiri Moses, Renee Mboya, Shonisani Netshia and Laura Ganda) & discussion
10:50 – 11:10 pm: Coffee Break
11:10 am – 12:10 pm: Invited speaker Emma Bedford
12:10 pm – 1:10 pm: AICA PANEL 1 – Confrontations
1:10 pm – 2:30 pm: LUNCH BREAK
2:30 pm – 4 pm: AICA Panel 2 – Redefining the ‘Global South’
4 pm – 4:20 pm: Coffee Break
4:20 – 6 pm: AICA Panel 3 – Race and Gender in Artistic Careers
7 pm: Artist Mary Sibande Studio Visit (https://kavigupta.com/artists/39-mary-sibande/)
8 pm: Dinner
THURSDAY 30 OCTOBER - CONGRESS DAY 3
FADA Building, Bunting Road Campus, University of Johannesburg
17 Bunting Rd, Auckland Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yZcdUxYczSKmoRvdA
10 am – 11:50 pm: AICA Panel 4 – Undoing Historical ‘Othering’ Through Art
11:50 am – 12:10 pm: Coffee Break
12:10 pm – 1:10 pm: Keynote Speaker – Pfunzo Sidogi & Bongi Dhlomo-Maultoa:
The Bongi Dhlomo Collection: Towards a discourse on black women art collectors in South Africa
1:10 pm – 2:30 pm: LUNCH BREAK
2:30 pm – 4pm: AICA Panel 5 – Art as a Response to Gender-Based Violence
4 pm – 4:20 pm: Coffee Break
4:20 pm – 5:50 pm: AICA Panel 6 – Gender and Race in Decolonial Artmaking
7 pm: Sculptor Gordon Froud Studio Visit (https://www.art.co.za/gordonfroud/) and Farewell Party.
FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER - CONGRESS DAY EXCURSION
10 am: Bus to Johannesburg to visit:
Wits Art Museum https://www.wits.ac.za/wam/
And Centre for the Book Arts https://theartistsbook.org.za/
12 am – 2:30 pm: Bus to Krugersdorp to visit:
Nirox Sculpture Park https://www.niroxarts.com/
2:30 pm – 4 pm: Bus to venue for LATE LUNCH BREAK (at participants expense)
4 pm: Bus to Pretoria to visit:
Museum Collection and Diane Victor’s Exhibition Opening at Javett Art Center – https://javettup.art/
8:30 pm: Bus will head back to Johannesburg
Find below the link to the attendees’ registration and information form, please can all people attending the congress fill in this form as soon as possible:
General Information for AICA Congress delegates
Congress Venue
FADA Building (Faculty of Art Design and Architecture)
https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/art-design-and-architecture/
University of Johannesburg, Bunting Road Campus, Cottesloe, Johannesburg, 2092.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jMV3KPixvC8bXhaB9
Accommodation
We suggest all delegates book at the nearest hotel to the University:
Cnr. Owl & Empire Roads Auckland Park, 2017 Johannesburg
Traveling to Johannesburg for the 2025 AICA Congress
Attending the 2025 AICA Congress in Johannesburg offers a unique opportunity to engage with global thought leaders in art and education. While Johannesburg is a vibrant and culturally rich city, it’s essential to approach your visit with awareness and preparation to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
Travel agency for optional activities
12GoTours – Sam Wingate Travel Agent
What’sApp + 27 82333 2393
Email info@12gotours.com
Applying for a South African Visa
International delegates attending the AICA Congress are advised to review South Africa’s visa requirements well in advance of their travel. Visa regulations vary depending on your country of origin. For comprehensive information on visa types, application procedures, and required documentation, please visit the official Department of Home Affairs website: Click here
Getting to the Conference from OR Tambo International Airport
Delegates arriving at OR Tambo International Airport can travel to Johannesburg with ease using either the Gautrain or ride-hailing services such as Uber. The Gautrain offers a fast, safe, and efficient connection from the airport to Rosebank Station, which is conveniently located near key hotels and conference venues. Alternatively, Uber is widely available and provides a direct, door-to-door option.
Please note: All travel arrangements are undertaken at delegates’ own risk. We recommend exercising standard travel precautions and planning routes in advance for a smooth arrival experience.
Welcome to Johannesburg
Johannesburg, affectionately known as Joburg or Jozi, is South Africa’s largest city and the economic heart of the continent. A vibrant and diverse metropolis, Johannesburg is rich in history, culture, and creativity—home to world-class museums, thriving art districts, and dynamic culinary experiences. Whether exploring the inner city, visiting heritage sites, or enjoying the scenic surrounds, visitors will find Joburg to be both inspiring and full of energy. The city offers a wide range of accommodation options, convenient transport services, and warm hospitality, making it an ideal destination for international delegates attending AICA Congress.
Safety Measures and Recommendations
Campus Security: The University of Johannesburg prioritizes the safety of all visitors. Each campus is equipped with dedicated security control rooms. Emergency contact numbers for each campus are provided on the university’s safety guidelines page. Click here
Personal Awareness: Avoid displaying valuables such as smartphones or jewelry in public spaces. Refrain from using earphones while walking, as it can make you less aware of your surroundings. Always stay alert, especially when navigating unfamiliar areas.
Transportation: Utilise reputable transportation services, such as registered taxis or rideshare apps, to move around the city. Avoid accepting unsolicited offers of rides from strangers. Platform such as UBER and BOLT are rideshare apps that are used in South Africa
Emergency Contacts: Familiarise yourself with local emergency numbers, including the national emergency line (10111) and the specific contact numbers for UJ campus security. Keep these numbers accessible during your stay.
Cultural Experiences
As part of your 2025 AICA Congress experience, we invite you to explore the vibrant cultural landscape of Johannesburg through a curated selection of optional excursions. From cutting-edge creative hubs and contemporary art galleries to historic museums, theatres, and design studios, these excursions offer delegates a unique opportunity to engage with the city’s dynamic artistic and cultural heartbeat.
Whether you’re looking to connect with local creatives, gain insight into South Africa’s rich history, or simply experience the pulse of Johannesburg’s creative scene, these experiences promise to inspire and inform.
Absa Art Gallery
The Absa art gallery is situated on the piazza of Towers Main in Johannesburg, South Africa. The art that they exhibit in this unconventional space is both the works of pioneering art masters, and that of dynamic, inspiring and emerging visual artists from across Africa. More than simply preserving the continent’s art legacy, they are committed to giving young African artists the platform to speak to the world through their art.
https://www.absa.africa/absa-art-portfolio/art-gallery/
Piazza, Towers Main, 160 Main St, City and Suburban, Johannesburg, 2001
+27 11 350 3003
Artyli Gallery
Artyli Gallery stands as a vibrant contemporary African Art Gallery, curating and selling a diverse array of artwork by African artists. Established in 2020, mere days before South Africa’s lockdown, our gallery embraced the challenge of navigating the Covid-19 business landscape. Unswayed, we steadfastly pursued our mission of becoming a permanent fixture in South Africa’s art scene, nurturing artists and connecting with collectors.
Nelson Mandela Square Sandton City Sandton, Sandown, Sandton, 2092
+27 62 194 7531
Asisebenze Art Atelier (AAA)
Asisebenze Art Atelier (AAA) is a unique collaboration located in downtown Johannesburg that is enabling emerging and established artists to reach their full potential. The space, comprising six floors of artist studios, is brimming with a vibrant energy that is as captivating as it is humbling. Born out of the ambition to create a sustainable fine arts ecosystem for Africa’s emerging talent, Asisebenze allows artists to spread their creative wings, while pursuing commercial success. Members of the AAA collective receive housing, studios, materials, and professional guidance that allow them to realise their artistic and life ambitions.
email: tanyak@asisebenze.com | call: +27 72 432 9929
August House – Visual Arts
In Johannesburg’s inner city lies an exclusive art building, housing more than 50 independent, pan-African contemporary artists, in private art studios, known to the locals as ‘The Artists’ Playground’.
Constitution Hill – Johannesburg
Constitution Hill is a pivotal cultural and historical landmark in Johannesburg, serving as a testament to South Africa’s journey from oppression to democracy. The site encompasses the Constitutional Court, the Old Fort, Number Four Prison, and the Women’s Gaol, each narrating compelling stories of the nation’s past. Visitors can engage with interactive exhibitions, guided tours, and public programs that delve into themes of justice, human rights, and the country’s struggle for freedom. Notably, the Constitutional Court houses an impressive collection of over 200 artworks that reflect South Africa’s rich cultural tapestry.
Link: Click here
11 Alexander Street Studios
11 Alexander Street Studios is an independent artist community who share building space in Ferreirasdorp Johannesburg. Established in 2019 by Dorothee Kreutzveld and Nolan Oswald Denis, 11 Alexander Street studio’s offers studio space at an affordable rate to emerging and established artists with a meaningful desire to foster a creative community.
11 Alexander St, Ferreiras Dorp, Johannesburg, 2048
Candice Berman Fine Art Gallery
319 Bryanston Dr, Bryanston, Sandton, 2191
+27 11 463 8524
www.candicebermangallery.co.za
Ellis House Art Building
Ellis House is home to over 30 artists as well as The Labyrinth Project: a platform for artistic exchange and interdisciplinary experiment. Ellis House features multiple exhibition and workshop spaces, Audio-Visual facilities and prides itself on the fact that all creative programming is artist-led. www.ellishouse.co.za
23 Voorhout St, Bertrams, Johannesburg, 2094
+27 72 915 4211
Gallery Momo
Contact details: 011 327 3247 |
52 Parktown North
Johannesburg, Gauteng
Goodman Gallery
Goodman Gallery is an international contemporary art gallery with locations in Johannesburg, Cape Town, London and New York. The gallery represents artists whose work confronts entrenched power structures and inspires social change.
163 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg, 2193
+27 11 788 1113
Latitudes Centre of the Arts
Latitudes Centre for the Arts (LCA) is a physical, multi-purpose exhibition space in Johannesburg dedicated to the year-round promotion of artists and galleries on the continent.
10 Hope Rd, Mountain View, Johannesburg, 2192
Living Artists Emporium (LAE)
Bertrams Rd cnr, Ellis Park Tennis Club, Miller St, New Doornfontein, Johannesburg, 2094
+27 82 573 3488 – livingartistemporium.co.za
Mandabele Photo Gallery and Hub *Visual arts and photography
Community Gallery/ Project/Collaborative Space/Photo Studio/Coffee Bar. Click here
9737 Cemetery Rd, Braamfischerville, Soweto, 1875
Rand Club
At the beating heart of Johannesburg’s historic business district, astride its plunging seam of gold, stands Rand Club – a timeless South African icon.
Founded in 1887 in the fledgling days of Johannesburg, Rand Club is the city’s most enduring social institution and finest heritage venue. Alongside this, the Rand Club also has regular art exhibitions and studio spaces upstairs, as well as a jazz club.
33 Loveday St, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2107 | +27 11 870 4260
Transwerke Studios
The Queen Victoria Hospital heritage Art Deco building has been transformed into The Creative Uprising Hub (at Transwerke). The Creative Uprising Hub offers Makers & Visual Artists affordable office spaces and runs programmes to support the enterprises from a market access, business and product design perspective. The Hub aims to form a network that will drive the growth of creative industries in the province, providing more jobs, more education, and more opportunities.
https://www.facebook.com/conhillcreativeuprising/
Transwerke, Sam Hancock St, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017
Victoria Yards Tour
Victoria Yards was not always a hub for innovative thinkers, learners, and entrepreneurs. Built as a steam laundry in 1913, the property, which is now 100 years old, has changed little in terms of the original buildings, standing abandoned for a time before being taken by informal traders. Victoria Yards, which now occupies property, was established in 2016. Victoria Yards has become a hub for a variety of creative companies, thanks to the inclusion of gardens, Koi ponds, and space rethinking.
Address and Contact details: VICTORIA YARDS, 16 Viljoen Street,
Johannesburg, GP, 2094, South Africa
+27105945210 | hello@vicyards.co.za
Vilakazi Street – Soweto
Vilakazi Street in Soweto stands as a vibrant symbol of South Africa’s rich cultural heritage and its fight for freedom. It is renowned as the only street in the world to have been home to two Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The street is a hub of cultural activity, featuring the Mandela House Museum, local markets, traditional cuisine, and live music, offering visitors an immersive experience into the heart of South African history and community life.
Link: Click here
WITS Art Museum
Wits Art Museum Cnr Jorissen and, Bertha St, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017
+27 11 717 1365
City Sightseeing Johannesburg Red Bus
Cultural City Tour
The City Sightseeing Johannesburg Red Bus offers an immersive hop-on hop-off experience, allowing visitors to explore the city’s rich cultural and historical landmarks at their own pace. This open-top, double-decker bus tour provides insightful audio commentary in multiple languages, enhancing the journey through Johannesburg’s diverse heritage.
Key Cultural Stops Include:
Constitution Hill: A former prison complex now housing the Constitutional Court, symbolizing South Africa’s journey to democracy.
Vilakazi Street, Soweto: The only street in the world to have been home to two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Apartheid Museum: An immersive experience detailing the history of apartheid and the struggle for freedom.
Newtown Cultural Precinct: A vibrant area known for its street art, live music, and cultural festivals.
Gold Reef City: A theme park and casino built on a former gold mine, reflecting Johannesburg’s mining heritage.
The tour operates daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the final departure at 4:00 PM. Tickets are valid for one or two days, offering flexibility to explore the city at leisure. A complimentary shuttle service is available from select hotels in Sandton.
Link: Click here