Minutes of the 29th meeting
Present: Juste Constant Onana Amougui, Patrique deGraft-Yankson, Osuanyi Essel, Mary Claire Kidenda, Lize Kriel, Lydia Muthuma, Jane Otieno, Christian Römmelt, Avi Sooful, Bernadette Van Haute, Ernst Wagner
Apologies: Ebenezer Acquah, Paul-Henri Souvenir Assako Assako, Ruth Belinga, Stefan Eisenhofer, Constanze Kirchner, Suki Mwendwa, Runette Kruger
Welcome
Avi Sooful welcomed all participants and proposed the agenda.
Official registration of EVC
Patrique proposed that EVC register as a society/association/institute in Ghana. Such a registration would allow EVC to become a partner in funded projects or to apply for funds.
The Pan African Design Institute (PADI) in Ghana [https://thepadi.org/] could serve as a blueprint. PADI once started in Ghana as a national organisation and has become an international platform for pan-African design approaches (including diaspora). In restructuring EVC PADI’s constitution and Art Watch Africa (also Ghana-based) will serve as a template for consideration. The registration of EVC would require an organigram indicating an executive board. The discussion revealed two core aspects: The registration should be in an African country where such a registration can take place, and it should be in a country where procedural matters are not complicated and allow for international participants as Board members.
A committee consisting of Bernadette (SA, Chair), Christian (Germany), Patrique & Osuanyi (Ghana), Mary Claire (Kenya) and Constant (Cameroon) will develop a proposal on the registration position and present this at the next meeting in November.
Creating and sharing knowledge within EVC and beyond
Patrique introduced the idea of establishing a journal (annual publication) to have a platform for a more continuous exchange. This publication feeds into traditional academic expertise, based e.g. on a call for papers on specific themes.
To entice participation by academics, Lize pointed out that such a journal must have already existed for several years to be formally recognised by South African universities.
The following aspects require further discussion:
- Should the journal be independent, or would there be the possibility of co-operation with already existing journals (e.g. Paul's or Lydia's), where EVC could act as supervisor of special issues for instance?
- In addition, Osuanyi suggested (again) developing video formats to make content useful for teaching the youth. These videos could then be advertised via social media (e.g. TikTok). And, existing EVC book publications could also be used for such a project.
- Mary Claire asked if a combination of journal and such video tutorials would be possible.
Again, a committee was formed to discuss the options and make a proposal for the next meeting: Patrique & Osuanyi (Ghana); Lydia (Kenya); Paul (Cameroon); Ernst (Germany).
Young EVC / Clubs / Societies
Patrique reported that student societies (e.g. for art or design) exist at UEW. These could become part of the Young EVC network (which is not very active at the moment). Such "EVC clubs" could also be initiated at other universities. The idea would also fit with Elsa's (France) and Isadora's (Brazil) ideas of managing the Young EVC project, as discussed at the last meeting in July. At that meeting, possible coordinators from other member countries were proposed: Esther Kute (TUK), Constant (LABA), Abraham (UEW), Obakeng Kgogoane (UP), and Delene Human (UP). Avi suggested pursuing this idea further.
Melanie Roberts (UP) @ Weingarten
Christian reported that Melanie Roberts from South Africa is currently working with the students at his university in Weingarten as part of her artist residency. Melanie invited the Panel to an online viewing of students making ceramic works in the studio. A brief report was delivered by selected students on their work.
Hackathon about Design Thinking at TUK
Mary Claire informed about the hackathon programme at TUK in Nairobi. For more details, see https://www.explore-vc.org/en/activities/news/july-18-20-2025-design-thinking-hackathon.html.
Next EVC conference
The UEW team offered to host the next EVC conference in Winneba in March 2026. The topic and programme will be discussed at the next meeting in November.
Postponed: Next joint exhibition
The panel confirmed the topic “Visual art as an agent of change in the age of poly crisis”. A request is made for a central coordinator to develop a timeline and collaborate with the national curators (to be appointed).
Next meeting
The next meeting will take place in the second half of November. Date tbc.