10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

Artists in the Vaal Region continue to occupy what may be described as the cultural margins of South African art. Despite active visual and performance art practices, artists from the region remain largely invisible within national art discourse due to limited exhibition opportunities, inadequate curatorial engagement, and exclusion from dominant art historical narratives. While the Vaal is widely recognised for its political history, little attention has been given to its artistic production and the contributions of local artists. This marginalisation has created a divide between university-based arts practices and Kasi arts, limiting opportunities for collaboration, recognition, and cultural development. This paper examines the Imbizo initiative as a platform designed to address these challenges by fostering dialogue and collaboration between university-affiliated artists and township-based artists in the Vaal Region. The aim of the study is to explore how the Imbizo can contribute to increasing artistic visibility, strengthening local cultural networks, and promoting recognition of artists who have historically been excluded from curatorial and historical art processes. The study adopts a qualitative, art-based approach grounded in community engagement. Data are drawn from the organisation and implementation of the Imbizo, artist participation, discussions, exhibitions, and observations of interactions between artists, institutions, and local communities. The project is informed by Sarah Hassan and Olu Oguibe's proposition that “If You Do Not Exhibit, You Do Not Exist,” which positions exhibitions as critical sites for the production of art history and public recognition. The analysis focuses on themes of visibility, curatorial exclusion, artistic recognition, and community collaboration. It examines how exhibitions and collective artistic platforms can challenge the marginalisation of artists from the Vaal Region and create opportunities for inclusion within broader South African art histories. Findings suggest that initiatives such as the Imbizo play a significant role in bridging the gap between university arts and Kasi arts, fostering cultural exchange, and creating sustainable platforms for artistic development and recognition.