Artists and designers – professionals, students or collectives – are invited to submit expressions of interest for light-based and video artworks to be considered for the Spier Light Art returning to the Stellenbosch wine farm for the eighth edition in 2026.
Spier Light Art promises to once again transform the landscape with bold, experimental and thought-provoking installations from South African artists.
Running from March to April, the event has become a yearly celebration of creativity – playful, provocative, reflective and inclusive. The exhibition offers one of the largest public audiences, attracting more than 13 000 visitors in 2025.
Submission entries close 21 July 2025. The curatorial team, led by Jay Pather and Vaughn Sadie are said to host an online briefing on Tuesday, 17 June 2025, at 16:00. An on-site briefing will be held on Saturday, 5 July, at 10:30.
Artists interested in attending should RSVP by sending an email to spierlightart@lightplace.org.
The curatorial team further invites submissions that place Light at the heart of each artwork as artists are encouraged to experiment boldly and push creative boundaries, with a strong emphasis on innovation and cross-generational appeal.
While there is no fixed theme, the curators welcomes works inspired by the ethereal and whimsical, pieces that explore technology, engage with contemporary issues facing South Africa, and reflect themes of resilience, enchantment, exuberance and the dynamic environment of a working wine farm.
Installations are either completely or partially funded and the categories of work may include the following:
- Site-specific work (designed to be displayed in particular places on Spier Wine Farm)
- Sculptural, object-based work
- Interactive art
- Digital works that foreground technology
- Video art
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS
Expressions of interest must include:
- Artist/collective/studio biographies of all involved (200 words)
- A short overview of the conceptual interests of the work, specifying which category the submission falls under (300 words)
- A concise description of the work, including concept sketches (300 words)
- A description of the use of light in the work (150 words)
- A description of the audience interaction/engagement with the work, but ideally a video (150 words)
- A provisional but realistic and well-considered budget indicating whether it is to be funded entirely or in partby the Spier Arts Trust
- Web links to and/or images of the proposed work or, if not already developed, examples of previous work.
Remember you can email your expression of interest to the project manager at spierlightart@lightplace.org before 21 July 2025.
