Category: Competition / Award

The ANNA Award is an annual contemporary art prize celebrating and supporting women-identifying artists from Africa and the African diaspora. Founded in 2022 through a partnership between ANNA Pure Organic and Latitudes, the award was created to discover, recognise and nurture a new generation of contemporary African artists while removing many of the traditional barriers to entry.

One of the award’s defining features is its accessibility. Artists do not need formal art training to apply, there are no age restrictions, and submissions are welcomed in any artistic medium. The focus is on originality, creative vision and contemporary artistic practice rather than academic qualifications or an extensive exhibition history.

Each year, the award attracts artists from across the continent, reflecting the diversity of contemporary African art and providing emerging and established practitioners with valuable exposure.

Prize

The 2026 award included:

• First Prize
  • R100,000 cash prize
  • Presentation opportunity at RMB Latitudes Art Fair
  • Feature across Latitudes’ editorial and social media platforms
  • One year’s supply of ANNA Pure Organic products
  • Consideration for a SAFFCA artist residency
• Finalists
  • Artist profile on Latitudes
  • Consideration for a residency with the Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA)
• Audience Award
  • Public vote from the shortlisted finalists
  • One year’s supply of ANNA products
  • Feature in the Latitudes newsletter and social media channels

Who Can Apply?

The award is open to:

• Women-identifying artists
• Artists working anywhere in Africa or within the African diaspora
• Artists working in any medium
• Artists of any age
• Artists with or without formal art education

Applicants must own all submitted work and retain full moral and intellectual property rights.

Application Requirements

Although application details may vary slightly each year, artists are generally asked to submit:

• A short artist biography
• An artist statement
• High-quality images of original artworks
• A portfolio that broadly falls within contemporary African art

The application process is intentionally inclusive, with no requirements for formal qualifications, lengthy CVs or academic credentials.

Annual Applications

Applications typically open annually, with deadlines announced by Latitudes and ANNA. As dates change each year, artists are encouraged to monitor future calls for entries and prepare their portfolio, artist statement and biography in advance.

If you are a woman-identifying artist working in contemporary African art, the ANNA Award is one of South Africa’s most significant annual opportunities, offering substantial prize funding, professional exposure and valuable career development opportunities.