Corporate Partnerships:
Investing in and Mentoring Emerging Artists
Artist Proof Studio prides itself on the range of business partners who have supported our projects either through their corporate social investment programmes or through provision of job opportunities and mentors for our learners. Business partners have also assisted us in raising our public profile and providing income-generating opportunities. APS actively seeks out such partnerships with a view to building our organizational sustainability.
Our current corporate partners include Pinpoint One Human Resources, Bell Dewar, Tracker, 21st Century Pay Solutions, Taquanta and Chemetall. These companies have assisted us in recent years by providing bursaries for individual students. In 2009, about 25 students are being supported with R12 000 bursaries, half of which pays APS tuition costs and half of which is paid to the students in monthly stipends to subsidize their materials and transport costs. This investment by our corporate patrons enhances students’ commitment to their studies, builds their sense of responsibility, and encourages the achievement of excellence.
In order to create a more reciprocal relationship based on mutual respect, each student gives their patron four beautiful artworks at the end of the academic year. Patrons are also able to showcase their corporate social investment activities and corporate profile by sponsoring APS art exhibitions to which their clients are invited. Several of our corporate partners have been recognized by Business Arts South Africa (BASA) through awards for their CSI partnership with Artist Proof Studio.
Some of our corporate patrons have provided invaluable assistance to APS and our students beyond the provision of bursaries. They mentor our students, introduce them to their workplaces and staff, provide opportunities for them to exhibit and sell their artwork and learn how to interact with clients. Their staff provide workshops to students on everything from how to open a bank account to writing curriculum vitae, developing business cards, starting a small business, copyright law, and so on. Thus these partners are directly contributing to students’ life skills and potential.
A number of corporates and other organizations have commissioned APS to produce print portfolios. These not only raise the Studio’s public profile and bring in income, but also develop the confidence of the participating students and emerging artists. For example, the MTN Art Foundation commissioned two printmaking projects: the Soweto portfolio which was carried out by three trainee printers in 2006; and the Sophiatown portfolio which was completed in 2007. Also in 2007, Sigodi Marah Martin commissioned a series of six works by third-year students on the theme of water and development. Thirty prints of each of the six wonderful works, printed by the Pro-Print Studio, were presented to Sigodi Marah Martin and were to be used as client gifts. In 2008, the architecture firm of Boogertman and Partners commissioned students to print editions of etchings produced in response to viewing of many buildings around Johannesburg designed by Boogertman architects. The etchings were stunning and were given as gifts to clients by the firm. A book reproduced the etchings and information about the artists. These are only a few of the many commissions received.
Artist Proof Studio values our corporate partnerships and we welcome inquiries from other companies who may wish to support our efforts to empower our students to develop their talent, become self-sufficient, and make a meaningful contribution to society. These partnerships allow us to provide our students with valuable skills and artistic career opportunities that are not available elsewhere.