Deadline: 21-Jul-2026
The Spier Light Art Programme invites artists and designers to submit expressions of interest for light-centred commissions at Spier Wine Farm in South Africa. The programme supports site-specific, sculptural, interactive, digital, video, sound and light-based works where light is central to the concept, medium and subject.
Artists, designers, collectives, students and institutions from diverse backgrounds, disciplines and career stages are eligible to participate. Commissioned works will receive a standardised artist fee, while production budgets will be determined according to the scale and requirements of each selected proposal.
Programme Overview
The Spier Light Art Programme supports new commissioned works that use light as a central artistic element.
The programme takes place at Spier Wine Farm in South Africa and invites creative proposals that respond to the farm’s landscape, atmosphere and public setting.
It encourages artists and designers to explore how light can shape experience, interaction, storytelling and visual engagement.
Main Objective
The main objective of the Spier Light Art Programme is to commission creative works that place light at the centre of artistic expression.
The programme aims to:
- Support light-centred art commissions
- Encourage site-specific artistic responses
- Promote creative use of technology
- Support sculptural and installation-based work
- Encourage audience interaction
- Explore themes of resilience and enchantment
- Engage with the working wine farm landscape
- Provide opportunities for artists, designers and creative collectives
Key Focus Areas
The programme supports a wide range of light-based creative practices.
Key focus areas include:
- Site-specific art
- Light art
- Sculptural installations
- Object-based installations
- Interactive art
- Digital works
- Technology-based art
- Video art
- Sound and light integration
- Public engagement
- Resilience
- Enchantment
- Working farm landscapes
- Audience experience
What the Programme Supports
The Spier Light Art Programme supports commissions that use light as the central concept, medium and subject.
Eligible works may include:
- Installations designed for specific locations on the farm
- Sculptural works using light
- Object-based light artworks
- Interactive audience experiences
- Digital works using technology as a medium
- Video-based light works
- Sound and light installations
- Experimental interdisciplinary works
- Works responding to Spier Wine Farm’s landscape
Proposals should clearly show how light drives the creative idea.
Site-Specific Works
Site-specific works are designed for a particular location.
For this programme, artists are encouraged to consider how their work will respond to the physical, visual and environmental qualities of Spier Wine Farm.
This may include the farm’s outdoor spaces, architecture, pathways, natural surroundings or working wine farm context.
Light as Concept, Medium and Subject
Light should not be used only as decoration.
The strongest proposals should show how light functions as:
- The central concept of the work
- The main artistic medium
- A subject for exploration
- A way to shape audience experience
- A tool for storytelling, interaction or atmosphere
Applicants should clearly explain how light is used and why it matters to the artwork.
Eligible Applicants
The opportunity is open to creative applicants from diverse backgrounds and career stages.
Eligible applicants include:
- Artists
- Designers
- Collectives
- Students
- Institutions
- Emerging practitioners
- Established practitioners
- Interdisciplinary creatives
The programme welcomes applicants from different disciplines and artistic approaches.
Funding and Artist Fees
A standardised artist fee is provided for all commissioned works.
Production budgets are determined based on the scale, complexity and requirements of each proposal.
The project may provide full or partial funding for production costs.
Applicants should submit a provisional budget that clearly indicates the funding required to realise the work.
Proposal Requirements
Expressions of interest must include several key components.
Applicants should prepare:
- A biography of up to 200 words
- A conceptual overview of up to 300 words
- A concise work description with sketches or visual references of up to 300 words
- A description of how light is used in the work of up to 150 words
- An outline of audience interaction and engagement of up to 150 words
- A provisional budget showing funding requirements
- Supporting web links or images of proposed or previous work
Each section should be clear, focused and aligned with the programme’s light-centred approach.
Biography Requirement
Applicants must submit a biography of up to 200 words.
The biography should briefly describe the applicant’s creative background, experience, artistic practice and relevant previous work.
Artists, designers, collectives, students and institutions should use this section to show why they are suited to the commission.
Conceptual Overview Requirement
The conceptual overview should be up to 300 words.
This section should explain the central idea behind the proposed work.
Applicants should describe the theme, artistic intention and connection to light, technology, resilience, enchantment or the Spier Wine Farm landscape.
Work Description Requirement
Applicants must provide a concise work description of up to 300 words.
This should explain what the artwork will look like, how it will function and how it may be installed or experienced.
Sketches or visual references should be included to help reviewers understand the proposed work.
Use of Light Requirement
Applicants must describe how light is used in the work in up to 150 words.
This section is especially important because light must be central to the proposal.
Applicants should explain whether light is used through projection, illumination, reflection, shadow, movement, digital media, interaction, video, sound integration or other creative methods.
Audience Interaction and Engagement
Applicants must outline audience interaction and engagement in up to 150 words.
This section should explain how visitors will experience the work.
The proposal may describe whether the work is immersive, participatory, walk-through, responsive, contemplative, sensory, digital or interactive.
Provisional Budget
Applicants must submit a provisional budget.
The budget should indicate the funding needed to produce and install the work.
It should be realistic and may include costs such as materials, technical equipment, fabrication, installation, transport, documentation, labour or specialist support.
Supporting Material
Applicants should include supporting web links or images of proposed or previous work.
These materials help demonstrate artistic quality, technical ability and the applicant’s capacity to realise the proposed commission.
Why This Programme Matters
Light art can transform public spaces and invite audiences to experience familiar environments in new ways.
The Spier Light Art Programme matters because it supports artists and designers to create works that combine imagination, technology, place and audience engagement.
By situating commissions within a working wine farm landscape, the programme encourages creative responses to environment, resilience, wonder and human connection with place.
How to Prepare a Strong Expression of Interest
Applicants should prepare a focused proposal that clearly explains the concept, use of light, site relationship and audience experience.
Step 1: Develop a Light-Centred Concept
The proposal should begin with a strong artistic idea where light is central.
Applicants should avoid treating light as an add-on or decorative element.
Step 2: Respond to the Site
Applicants should consider how the work relates to Spier Wine Farm.
A strong proposal should show awareness of the location, landscape, public setting and working farm environment.
Step 3: Choose the Right Format
Applicants should select the format that best supports the concept.
This may include sculpture, installation, video, sound, digital media, interactive technology or mixed media.
Step 4: Explain the Audience Experience
The proposal should clearly describe how audiences will encounter and engage with the work.
Applicants should explain whether viewers will walk around it, move through it, activate it, listen to it, watch it or interact with it.
Step 5: Provide Strong Visual References
Sketches, images or links can help reviewers understand the scale, form and atmosphere of the proposed work.
Visual material should support the written description.
Step 6: Prepare a Realistic Budget
The provisional budget should match the scale and technical needs of the proposal.
Applicants should clearly show whether they require full or partial production funding.
Step 7: Keep to Word Limits
Applicants should respect the stated word limits for each required section.
Clear and concise writing can make the proposal easier to assess.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Using light only as decoration
- Submitting a concept that does not respond to the site
- Providing vague or overly complex descriptions
- Leaving out sketches or visual references
- Not explaining audience engagement
- Submitting a weak or unrealistic budget
- Ignoring the working wine farm context
- Failing to explain technical requirements
- Exceeding the required word limits
- Providing supporting material that does not relate to the proposal
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Place light at the centre of the artwork
- Show a clear connection to Spier Wine Farm
- Present a realistic and achievable concept
- Include strong visual references
- Explain audience interaction clearly
- Demonstrate technical feasibility
- Use concise and direct language
- Provide a practical production budget
- Reflect themes such as resilience, technology, enchantment or landscape
- Show the applicant’s creative capacity through previous work
FAQ
1. What is the Spier Light Art Programme?
The Spier Light Art Programme is an open call for artists and designers to submit expressions of interest for light-centred commissions at Spier Wine Farm in South Africa.
2. Who can apply?
Artists, designers, collectives, students and institutions from diverse backgrounds, disciplines and career stages can apply.
3. What types of works are supported?
The programme supports site-specific works, sculptural installations, object-based installations, interactive art, digital works, video art and sound and light integration.
4. Is funding available?
Yes. A standardised artist fee is provided for all commissioned works, and production budgets are determined based on each proposal’s scale and requirements.
5. What must the expression of interest include?
Applicants must submit a biography, conceptual overview, work description with sketches or visual references, explanation of light use, audience engagement outline, provisional budget and supporting links or images.
6. Does light need to be central to the work?
Yes. Light must function as the central concept, medium and subject of the proposed artwork.
7. Where will the commissioned works be located?
The commissioned works will be created for Spier Wine Farm in South Africa, with an emphasis on site-specific engagement with the farm landscape.
Conclusion
The Spier Light Art Programme offers artists and designers an opportunity to create light-centred commissioned works at Spier Wine Farm in South Africa.
The programme supports site-specific, sculptural, interactive, digital, video, sound and light-based works that explore light as a powerful creative medium.
Applicants should submit clear, visually supported and realistic proposals that demonstrate strong use of light, meaningful audience engagement and a thoughtful response to the working wine farm landscape.
For more information, visit Spier.