Tlhagella Launches With Career-Empowering Workshop

On 28 November 2025, the Javett-UP will launch the Tlhagella Incubation Programme with a Professional Practice & Career Training Workshop which is set to empower 50 emerging and under-represented local artists with essential art industry knowledge. The workshop will feature presentations by leading art professionals, including artist Usha Seejarim, curator Tshegofatso Seoka,  publicist Maria McCloy, creative consultant Thoriso Mosenake, and Monde Mngoma from DALRO, who will share valuable insights on navigating the art business and building sustainable creative careers.

The one day session aims to equip artists with practical tools to manage their careers effectively, operate as creative businesses, and strengthen their professional identity within the art ecosystem. Key topics include portfolio development, basic legal agreements, marketing and publicity guidelines, funding opportunities, networking strategies, and insights into the broader visual arts landscape.

This workshop marks the first phase of the Tlhagella Incubation Programme, following the October Call for Submissions, which resulted in the shortlisting of fifty candidates. After the session, participants will prepare and submit updated portfolios by 9 January 2026, from which a Top Ten will be selected for an intensive development programme. This final phase will culminate in an Exhibition and Networking Programme at Javett-UP, opening 18 April 2026 and running for three months.

Ahead of the exhibition, selected artists will undergo additional training in curatorial and exhibition practices. They will receive curatorial support, stipends, and marketing assistance to professionally present their work. In addition, five outstanding artworks will be developed into limited-edition prints and merchandise, launching alongside the exhibition.

Tlhagella- meaning “show up”-is a call to action for artists to step forward and seek meaningful visibility. Funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), the programme supports emerging, under-represented visual artists residing in Tshwane and surrounding areas in Gauteng. It forms part of Javett-UP’s broader initiative, EmpowerED: Art as a Catalyst for Education, Engagement, and Economic Empowerment, which adopts a holistic approach to identifying, nurturing, and elevating talent across the visual and digital arts by providing mentorship and creating pathways for visibility and economic growth.

IMPORTANT: The attendance of this event is by invitation only.

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Workshop 1: The Artist and the Art Ecosystem facilitated by Usha Seejarim

Renowned visual artist Usha Seejarim leads this opening workshop, drawing on her extensive experience across exhibitions, public art commissions, and international platforms to guide participants in navigating the art world with authenticity and purpose. Known for transforming ordinary materials into profound artistic statements, Seejarim offers insights into how artists can develop a distinctive visual language that reflects both conceptual depth and personal identity. The session will unpack the dynamic relationship between concept, medium, and audience, encouraging artists to think critically about the intentions behind their practice and how to translate them into compelling, communicative visual forms. Through discussion, reflection, and practical examples, participants will explore strategies for sustaining creative integrity while engaging with curators, institutions, and collectors.

Workshop 2: Visibility and Creative Enterprise facilitated by Maria McCloy

In this workshop, cultural entrepreneur Maria McCloy explores the power of visibility, storytelling, and creative entrepreneurship in shaping a sustainable artistic career. Drawing from her extensive work in publicity, fashion, and cultural production, Maria will guide participants in crafting authentic brand narratives that align with their creative values. The session will delve into practical tools for building relationships with media, utilising social platforms, and creating content that strengthens public engagement. The second part of the workshop focuses on expanding one’s creative enterprise from merchandise development to interdisciplinary collaborations, while maintaining artistic integrity. By the end of the session, participants will gain strategies to position themselves confidently and sustainably within the broader creative economy.

Workshop 3: Fundraising and Sustainable Creative Systems facilitated by Thoriso Moseneke

Thoriso Moseneke, a Pretoria-based creative strategist and cultural systems thinker, leads this workshop on developing sustainable frameworks for artistic practice. Participants will be introduced to key aspects of fundraising, including identifying funders, articulating project goals, and crafting proposals that balance vision with feasibility. Beyond the mechanics of proposal writing, the session will consider ethical and community-centred approaches to resource mobilisation encouraging artists to think collaboratively and strategically about sustainability. Thoriso will also highlight real-world examples of successful creative systems that operate within values of care, equity, and mutual support, helping participants to imagine models of practice that nurture both artistic excellence and collective resilience.

Workshop 4: Copyright and Artists’ Rights facilitated by a Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation

Presented by a representative from the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO), this workshop provides crucial insights into the legal and administrative dimensions of professional artistic practice. Participants will learn how to safeguard their intellectual property, manage licensing and reproduction rights, and navigate the complexities of contracts and royalties. The workshop demystifies copyright law and introduces practical steps to ensure that creative work is protected and fairly remunerated. With case studies and interactive discussions, the facilitator will guide participants in understanding their rights and responsibilities as artists empowering them to advocate for themselves and establish professional practices grounded in legal awareness and ethical accountability.

Workshop 5: Building a Professional Portfolio facilitated by Tshegofatso Seoka, Curator: UNISA Art Gallery and Collection

As part of this Tlhagella Incubation Programme, participants will be required to submit a portfolio making this session a critical step in preparing for that process. This in-depth workshop focuses on the development of professional portfolios as an essential tool for advancing one’s artistic career. Tshegofatso will guide artists through the fundamentals of compiling a strong portfolio that effectively communicates their creative vision and professional trajectory. The session covers selecting and sequencing artworks, writing clear and compelling artist statements and biographies, and tailoring submissions for residencies, funding opportunities, and in this instance, the 2026 Tlagella exhibition. Drawing from her curatorial experience and knowledge of institutional collection practices, Tshegofatso will also share valuable insights into what curators and selection panels look for in submissions. This workshop aims to empower artists to present their work with professionalism, coherence, and confidence positioning them for future opportunities within and beyond Pretoria’s visual arts landscape.

Reflections by Puleng Plessie

The closing session, facilitated by Puleng Plessie, serves as an opportunity for participants to pause and reflect on the insights gained throughout the Tlhagella Professional Practice Workshop Series. Drawing from her experience as Curator of Education and Public Programmes at the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett-UP), Puleng will guide an open and reflective discussion that ties together the key themes explored across the 2026 Javett-UP exhibition in relation to their portfolio submission. This session creates practical next steps, and a collective space for sharing personal takeaways, challenges, and ambitions moving forward.