Bodhi Khaya Residency

Bodhi Khaya Residency is an annual two-week, funded, artist-founded, artist-led and process-oriented residency. It was initiated by a small group of artist friends who, after being accepted into international residencies, recognized a lack of similar opportunities within the South African arts landscape. In response, they established the residency in 2021. Artists at Bodhi Khaya residency immerse themselves on three neighbouring nature reserves, Bodhi Khaya, Blomerus and Platbos, in the midst of an intense reforestation project, surrounded by old-growth Afro-Montane forests, fynbos, streams and regenerative farming projects. Participants are invited to explore, through dialogue, collaborative work and hands-on practice, how art can catalyze change—whether by nurturing sustainability, advocating for gender and racial equity, fostering social creativity, or regenerating lands scarred by exploitation. We envision art as a force for renewal, capable of restoring not only ecosystems but also our collective sense of belonging to the earth.