Alternative Art Schools Reshape African Art Education Beyond Colonial Legacies
Across Africa, new alternative art schools are rising to confront conventional educational frameworks. The Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa and the Alle School of Fine Arts at Addis Ababa University are rooted in colonial or post-independence initiatives. In Ghana, blaxTARLINES, established by kąrî’kachä seid’ou in 2003 at Kwame Nkrumah University, hosts exhibitions featuring artists such as Ibrahim Mahama. Meanwhile, the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg, founded by David Goldblatt in 1989, focuses on training underrepresented communities in photography. Additionally, Senegal's RAW Académie, created by Koyo Kouoh in 2016, conducts sessions with artists like Tracey Rose. Other notable projects include the Imbali Visual Literacy Project, Cercle Luyalu, the Muholi Art Institute, and the Àsìkò School.
Key facts
- Many African art schools date to mid-20th century colonial or missionary projects.
- blaxTARLINES in Ghana evolved from an 'Emancipatory Art Teaching Project' started in 2003.
- Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg was founded by David Goldblatt in 1989.
- RAW Académie in Dakar was established in 2016 as a 'not-school' with seven-week sessions.
- Alternative schools address access and the shape of African art education.
- blaxTARLINES collaborates with institutions like Gudskul and the Städelschule in Frankfurt.
- Market Photo Workshop alumni include Zanele Muholi and Sabelo Mlangeni.
- RAW Académie sessions are led by artists such as Tracey Rose and Otobong Nkanga.
Entities
Artists
- El Anatsui
- Ibrahim Mahama
- Edwin Kwesi Bodjawah
- Kwaku Boafo Kissiedu
- George Ampratwum
- David Goldblatt
- Zanele Muholi
- Lebohang Kganye
- Sabelo Mlangeni
- John Fleetwood
- Tracey Rose
- Otobong Nkanga
- Linda Goode Bryant
- Arthur Jafa
- Felwine Sarr
- Rosa Barba
- Naeem Mohaiemen
- Eric Baudelaire
- kąrî’kachä seid’ou
Institutions
- Académie des Beaux-Arts
- Alle School of Fine Arts of Addis Ababa University
- University of Nigeria Nsukka
- Michaelis School of Art
- Wits University
- Imbali Visual Literacy Project
- Cercle Luyalu school
- Le Cercle d’Art des Travailleurs de Plantation Congolaise
- Muholi Art Institute
- Àsìkò School
- blaxTARLINES
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- CritLab
- Kelas Bareng
- Gudskul
- Städelschule
- Nordland School of Arts and Film
- Documenta 15
- Market Photo Workshop
- Photo Workshop Gallery
- Gallery 1989
- Raw Material Company
- RAW Académie
- ArtReview
Locations
- Kinshasa
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Addis Ababa
- Ethiopia
- Nsukka
- Nigeria
- Johannesburg
- South Africa
- Lusanga
- Kumasi
- Ghana
- Accra
- Tamale
- Frankfurt
- Germany
- Norway
- Dakar
- Senegal