LISA TRUTER, Coordinator, SAFIM Art Collaborative
On Tuesday, 12 May, SAFIM Art Collaborative hosted their 9th Gala & Auction event at The Nines in Sea Point. Whilst outside the skies were cold and grey, inside there was a warm sense of community and generosity.
SAFIM Art Collab was founded as the South African Friends of the Israel Museum in 2014. Since then, the organisation has grown significantly, and now supports local art education initiatives, alongside its work with the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
During his opening speech at the Gala, Co-Chairperson Marco van Embden highlighted that the Gala event is the cornerstone of the organisation’s fundraising efforts, with a target in surplus of R1 million to be raised on the night. Marco serves alongside Nina Kovensky and Suzanne Ackerman as National Co-Chairs of SAFIM Art Collab. The Johannesburg chapter is led by Della Berkowitz and Dori Weil.
SAFIM Art Collaborative partnered with sponsors for the event, so that funds raised weren’t allocated to event costs, rather going directly to the various initiatives. Stonehage Fleming acted as the headline sponsor for the second year running – providing significant support to the event. Other generous sponsors included Cohesive Capital, the Kaplan Kushlik Foundation, and Blok. Partners supporting the event were Kove Collection (whose restaurant, The Nines, played host to the evening), ORMS (framing), and iToo Art Insure. Additionally, Strauss & Co are annual sponsors to SAFIM Art Collab, and provided significant support on the evening, ensuring that the auction was facilitated to the highest level.
After guests spent time amongst the collection of 27 artworks, set out in an exhibition in the Station House foyer, everyone found their seats up at The Nines, and the auction began. Auctioneer Ariella Kuper opened the auction with a fantastic print by Sam Nhlengethwa, donated by the artist and Goodman Gallery. The print, depicting Steve ‘Kalamazoo’ Mokone kicked off the evening (pun intended ) – a fun work, especially in a FIFA World Cup year!
By the end of the evening, and having reaching a 100% sell-through rate, R1.52 million was raised through the sale of a significant collection of investment quality art. Auctioneer Ariella Kuper has long played an important role in SAFIM Art Collab’s fundraising auctions, which have now raised in excess of R9.5 million in total.
A highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the sale of three artworks by SAFIM Art Collab’s bursary recipients. As Suzanne Ackerman outlined for the audience, since 2023, the organisation has funded students at the Ruth Prowse School of Art studying towards their Fine Arts Diploma. Lona Ndzimande, Celine Ndzana and Zoli Ngxanga were present on the night as their works were each sold after a flurry of competitive bidding. Finally, their three works totalled R126 000 – a sum far greater than they would have imagined. These funds will be shared between the graduates themselves and SAFIM Art Collab’s future bursary recipients. Each of the graduates were overcome with emotion at this affirmation and celebration of their artistic talents. One can only hope that this will bolster and boost their journeys in pursuing their own artistic careers.
Alongside the bursary programme, funds raised will also support:
- Curatorial Fellowships at a local institution: SAFIM Art Collab has sponsored 13 internships and fellowships at various institutions to date. Most recently, they have focused on year-long more senior opportunities for aspiring curators, placed at Norval Foundation. The partner institution for the 2026/27 iteration will be announced in due course.
- Creating Together at the Israel Museum: SAFIM Art Collab are the sole sponsors of this project which brings Ethiopian-Israeli children to the Israel Museum on a weekly basis to engage in play, to visit the Museum, and to learn, with art as a vehicle. The project’s focus is on cross-cultural learning and understanding.
- SAFIM Art Collab also offers a percentage of the auction proceeds back to the contributing artists. In this way, they are able to support and give back to these artists. In some instances, the artists earn more than they ordinarily would from their own sales. This auction earned in excess of R300 000 in commissions payable to artists.
Outside of the Gala event, SAFIM Art Collab runs regular membership programming throughout the year in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. This brings art-interested individuals to varied art and cultural events to meet curators, artists, authors and more, whilst supporting their fundraising efforts.
During June, SAFIM will host a studio visit with artist Janice Codron in Cape Town.
For further information about SAFIM, contact Lisa Truter – lisa@artcollab.co.za.
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