One of the most extensive, broadly representative collections of South African art in the world, the SABC Art Collection comprises more than 1 000 artworks
One of the most extensive, broadly representative collections of South African art in the world, the SABC Art Collection comprises more than 1 000 artworks, celebrating the immense diversity and depth of local creative expression – both historical and contemporary.
In curatorial approach, we strive to be representative across categories of race, gender, historical period, style and medium. We seek to evoke emotion and inspire debate. The pluralism and diversity of expression voiced through the Collection speak of the SABC’s inclusive, democratic approach to broadcasting.
The mission of the SABC Art Collection is first and foremost to establish a public collection worthy of a National Broadcaster. Our aim is to establish and constantly supplement a collection of artwork representative of the creative output of South African visual artists, both historical and contemporary, and then to use the Collection within the broad framework of the objectives of the National Broadcaster as an educative instrument not only towards developing an understanding of visual art, but towards furthering its use as a mode of social engagement.
As the SABC mandate emphasizes in the Broadcasting Act 4 of 1999, the broadcasting system must encourage ‘the development of South African expression by providing a wide range of programming that refers to South African opinions, ideas, values and artistic creativity’ and, more specifically, ‘enrich the cultural heritage of South Africa by providing support for traditional and contemporary artistic expression’. This entails that the SABC Art Collection is an ongoing and always unfinished project reflecting not only South Africa’s cultural diversity and social realities, but also providing a space for the display of the well established, but always emergent creativity and individuality of our artists
