AT A GLANCE
Dates: 26 February to 21 March 2027
Venue: Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch
Online briefing: Saturday 20 June 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 SAST
On-site briefing: Saturday 4 July 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 SAST
Open call deadline: 21 July 2026
Contact: spierlightart@lightplace.org
Contact
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
There is no fixed theme. The primary requirement is that light functions as the central driver of the work as concept, medium, and subject matter. Within that, artists are free to explore any ideas relevant to their practice, including, but not limited to, technology, resilience, enchantment, and the context of a working wine farm and its landscape. We welcome proposals from artists and makers from across all disciplines and career stages.
Submissions may include:
- Site-specific work, designed for particular locations on Spier Wine Farm
- Sculptural or object-based work
- Interactive art
- Digital works that foreground technology as a medium
- Video art
- Sound and light integration
FEES AND FUNDING
A standardised artist fee applies to all commissioned works and screen video artworks. Production budgets vary according to the scale and requirements of each proposal, and are confirmed following the detailed proposal stage.
Full or partial funding is available through the project. Fees and budgets are discussed in detail at the online and site briefings.
TIMELINE
On-site briefing at Spier Wine Farm:
Saturday 4 July 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 SAST
Open call deadline: 21 July 2026
Shortlist notification: end of August 2026
Detailed proposals due: mid-September 2026
Final selections confirmed: early October 2026
Research and development period: October 2026
Production begins: November 2026
Exhibition: 26 February to 21 March 2027
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
How to Sumbit
Expressions of interest must be emailed to spierlightart@lightplace.org before 21 July 2026 and must include:Artist, collective, or studio biography (200 words)
- Artist, collective, or studio biography (200 words)
- Conceptual overview: the work's ideas and which category it falls under (300 words)
- Work description: including concept sketches or visual references (300 words)
- Use of light: how light functions in the work as medium, material or method of inquiry (150 words)
- Audience engagement: how the work is encountered and what it asks of its audience(150 words)
- Provisional budget: realistic and well-considered; indicate whether full or partial funding is requested
- Supporting material: web links and/or images of the proposed work, or examples of previous work
Shortlisted artists will be invited to submit a more detailed proposal.
OPEN CALL FAQ'S
The open call for Spier Light Art 2027 is now open. The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest is 21 July 2026.
Artists and designers, including professionals, students and institutions, are invited to submit expressions of interest. We encourage submissions from practitioners with diverse backgrounds, disciplines and career stages.
Submissions should make light a central element. There is no fixed theme. The primary requirement is that light serves as the central driver of the work, as concept, medium, and subject matter. Within that, artists are free to explore any ideas relevant to their practice, including, but not limited to, technology, resilience, enchantment, and the context of a working wine farm and its landscape. Submissions may include:
- Site-specific work, designed for particular locations on Spier Wine Farm
- Sculptural or object-based work
- Interactive art
- Digital works that foreground technology as a medium
- Video art
- Sound and light integration
A standardised artist fee applies to all commissioned works. Production budgets vary according to the scale and requirements of each proposal. Full or partial funding is available through the project. Artists must submit a provisional but realistic budget indicating the level of funding required. Fees and budgets are discussed in detail at the briefings.
A selection committee led by curator Vaughn Sadie will review submissions. Shortlisted artists may be asked to submit a more detailed proposal. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Expressions of interest must include:
- A biography (200 words) of the artist, collective, or studio
- A short overview of the conceptual interests of the work and its category (300 words)
- A concise description of the work, including concept sketches or visual references (300 words)
- A description of the use of light in the work (150 words)
- A description of audience interaction and engagement (150 words)
- A provisional budget indicating full or partial funding needs
- Web links or images of the proposed work, or examples of previous work
Email your expression of interest to spierlightart@lightplace.org before 21 July 2026.
Yes. The curatorial team will host two briefings:
- Online briefing: Saturday 20 June 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 SAST
- On-site briefing at Spier Wine Farm: Saturday 4 July 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 SAST
RSVP to spierlightart@lightplace.org if you would like to attend.
If you have further questions, email the project manager at spierlightart@lightplace.org.