Sponsor Pitch Summary: Clear CSI Alignment

The Johannesburg Portrait Prize is more than an award — it is a social investment in South Africa’s creative future.

1. Youth Empowerment & Education

• Youth & Kids Awards develop young artists from diverse backgrounds.
• School engagement, resources, and workshops open real access to the arts.
• Sponsorship directly funds prizes, mentorship, and visibility for future creatives.

2. Job Creation & Economic Impact

• Employs over 40 creatives, coordinators, and support staff per cycle.
• Provides artist fees, curatorial contracts, and exhibition income.
• Stimulates art sales and strengthens the creative economy.

3. Diversity, Inclusion & Representation

• Portraiture as a tool for identity and storytelling.
• Nationally representative judging panel and exhibited artists.
• Focus on underrepresented voices, rural participation, and inclusive outreach.

4. High-Impact Brand Visibility

• Presenting Partner recognition across national media, digital campaigns, catalogues, and exhibitions.
• Custom benefits: sponsor videos, VIP activations, product placement, staff engagement.
• Alignment with one of South Africa’s most visible and respected cultural platforms.

5. Auditable Impact & ESG Reporting

• Full impact report and CSI wrap-up pack delivered post-project.
• Alignment with SDGs (4, 5, 8, 10, 11) and corporate ESG objectives.
• Public accountability with measurable outcomes.

Audience & Reach

Entries:
1,200–1,800 projected nationwide submissions across all mediums, representing artists from diverse communities.

Exhibition Footfall:
15,000+ visitors over a four-week public exhibition and opening night, with strong school and youth engagement.

Media & Digital:
2–3M earned and owned impressions across press and social, with sponsor messaging integrated into campaigns celebrating diversity, education, and transformation.

We agree on KPIs with each sponsor and deliver a post-event outcomes and CSI/ESG report.

Sponsorship Packages

Choose a partnership tier that demonstrates your commitment to inclusion, transformation, and South Africa’s creative economy:

Naming Rights – Presenting Partner

• Naming: “Johannesburg Portrait Prize presented by [Brand]”
• Primary logo lock-up and media billing
• Opening-night stage recognition (20 VIP guests)
• Co-created content series and image usage rights
• First right of renewal
• Full inclusion in CSI impact reporting and SDG alignment

Major Award – Platinum Partner

• Naming of a major award (e.g. People’s Choice or Youth Award)
• Secondary media billing and exhibition branding
• 12 VIP invitations and hospitality
• Feature story and social campaign
• Visibility in education and youth outreach programmes

Exhibition Branding – Gold Partner

• Brand panel at exhibition and on-site
• Category mentions across web and social platforms
• 8 VIP invitations
• Product placement (where appropriate)
• Inclusion in post-project impact report

Targeted Impact – Category / Programme

• Fund a specific element (Children’s Prize, honoraria, education outreach)
• Credited across all related touchpoints
• Customisable benefits

Packages can be customised; in-kind partnerships are welcomed (media, printing, logistics, travel, AV).

Activation Ideas

People’s Choice Live
Engage audiences with branded voting both online and in-gallery, complete with real-time leaderboards. Your brand is showcased as thousands cast their votes, with the winner revealed on opening night.

Meet the Finalists
Align your brand with creativity and talent through a co-branded short-form video and interview series. Shared across multiple channels, these stories spotlight both the artists and your partnership.

Education and Community
Extend your impact beyond the gallery by sponsoring workshops, school visits, and artist talks. Delivered under your brand banner, these programmes build lasting visibility, inclusion, and goodwill within the community.

Integrity and Governance

Independent Judging Panel
All conflicts of interest are actively managed and transparently published.

Curatorial Independence
Artistic and curatorial decisions are fully protected in all agreements.

Clear Brand Guidelines
A structured approvals process ensures consistency and alignment with your brand, while maintaining artistic integrity.

Key Dates

Entries Open
To be confirmed.

Entries Close
To be confirmed.

Finalists Announced
To be confirmed.

Exhibition and Awards
To be confirmed.

FAQs

Can we customise a package?
Absolutely. We will align benefits with your objectives, target markets, and KPIs.

Are sponsors involved in judging?
No. To protect integrity, all judging is conducted independently.

Can we use images in our marketing?
Yes. We provide approved imagery and usage rights, along with clear brand guidelines.

Do you support B-BBEE SED?
We are a 51% Black woman-owned Exempt Micro Enterprise (EME) with a Level 2 B-BBEE status, qualifying under the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA). This means that sponsorship spend with us contributes directly to your Preferential Procurement recognition on your B-BBEE scorecard.