Youth development programme

I am happy to have been given space to learn a lot about art conservation, art preservation and caring for a museum collection. This curatorial internship taught me how to speak more with confidence through the art and justice tours, weekly staff meetings as well as the art committee meetings. It was a space for me to develop as a part of a young team. The culture of the Constitutional Court fully speaks of ubuntu. I enjoyed the opportunities that I was given to lead projects. Thank you.

The CCT is managing the CCAC for the betterment of all the art at the Constitutional Court as well as working towards giving the public greater access to their own history through art and allowing the stories of various artists to be heard. During my time there as a curatorial intern, I was privileged to experience the tireless effort, love and passion for art that had driven me there in the first place. I have been imbued with a sense of pride and admiration. Thank you Thina, Francois and Catherine for allowing me to be part of the great project that is the CCAC.

My internship experience was an honour because it allowed me to learn and work with artworks made by extraordinary South African artists. I learnt how big of an impact works that speak to social justice have on the public. The experience also taught me how to develop my art conceptually, but also about conservation, how to write about my artworks as well as writing reports, taking minutes, conducting tours and even creating branded t-shirts. The curatorial team made me feel like we were part of a family that could work as a solid unit to overcome the workload.

The graduate internship was a great way to learn about South Africa’s history while trying to forge new narratives using art. I learnt the importance of not only preserving art but seeking ways to continue shifting political dialogues within the scope of South Africa and the Constitutional Court Art Collection.

It was a great privilege to partake in the graduate curatorial internship and to work with, closely study and observe the Constitutional Court Art Collection. The Trust invokes the importance of cultural preservation and conservation through their many projects with artists and conservators. The internship programme fosters an environment in which to learn from professionals in the field and engage with transdisciplinary practices which make the work of curation, public engagement and conservation, possible.

The internship was a wonderful experience! I got to learn a lot professionally and personally. Like how to handle working in high pressured environments, caring for and conserving artworks, working with a great team and having lots of conversations about art and the issues surrounding the time we live in. The experience has also changed how I approach creating my artwork, now I consider the conservation of my work before using any materials.

The CCAC is a site of knowledge production, power, education, resistance and sensitivity. The internship programme invests in young aspiring curators like myself, allowing us to learn curatorial processes in a practical environment. I was grateful for the ability to make decisions, think and act independently as well as working collaboratively. The internship is well-rounded where I was able to take part in both public engagement and conservation aspects of the work. The collection illustrates the importance of preserving, conserving and caring for artworks, while fostering a healthy, productive and positive environment in which one can grow and learn. The CCAC provided endless learning opportunities, helping me position and envision my career for my best success.

It has been nothing short of incredible to intern for the CCT. I was part of a fantastic team. I worked on conservation projects and public engagements programs. This opportunity gave me the introduction to curation world that I sorely needed. Meeting artists and doing tours was enjoyable. I was given the chance to arrange events, plan exhibitions, monitor the environment for artworks, and conserve artworks, to name a few. I had a great time learning about the CCAC and the outstanding artists behind the artworks. I'm thankful that it has been a well-rounded experience for me.

I am very humbled to have worked with a dedicated team. My experience with the CCAC has taught me how to organise my life intentionally. I have learned to appreciate pressure and focus on what is required of me while ignoring the chaos. I use chaos here to mean the pressure of deadlines, the pressure of having to put aside what you had initially planned to do and focus on what is most required by the team, and chaos in the sense that you will feel like you will not meet a deadline but if you just keep working you eventually succeed. I have learned to take all of these experiences and applied them to my personal life.

Working for the CCT has been quite a rewarding experience! I am have evolved for the better; as a continued student of the visual arts and an active member of society. I was pushed to better myself with administrative work, transcribing interviews, building relationships with service providers and to be forward thinking. I saw the importance of collaboration with how the team committed to deadlines. I am privileged to have obtained the knowledge and necessary skills from a dedicated team.

Completing the internship with the Constitutional Court Trust has been an insightful and educational experience. During this time, I gained invaluable insights into the various systems and activities required to maintain the unique art collection housed at the Constitutional Court. The internship offered hands-on opportunities to engage in conservation projects, enhance my ability to work effectively under pressure, and develop skills in social media engagement and administrative tasks related to managing a large collection of artworks. One of the highlights of my experience was participating in the curatorial process for the Trust’s first travelling exhibition, A Luta Continua. This provided me with a deeper understanding of curatorial practices and the complexities of organising such a significant project. Lastly, I am very grateful to the entire curatorial team for their guidance and support, which were instrumental in my growth throughout the internship.