This is the website of the South African Visual Arts Historians (SAVAH), an organisation of academics and professionals who are dedicated to advancing art history and visual culture.

One of the key activities undertaken by SAVAH is the organisation of an ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

In 2024 we held our 37th Annual SAVAH Conference at the Department of Visual Arts in the School of Visual and Performing Arts, Faculty of Humanities, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, 12-14 September 2024. Many thanks to Dr Vulindlela Nyoni and his team for making the conference such a success!

We also organise or participate in, on an ad hoc basis, workshops, symposia or other events which we send information about to our members and sometimes post here and via our social media. Have a look at the MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS and JOIN SAVAH if you would like to become a member.

We send emails out to current members via a mailing list as well as occasionally via the SAVAH website. To ensure you receive SAVAH messages please check your junk mail and unblock SAVAH mailings, or alternatively contact your email administrator.

VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT, FACULTY OF LAW, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, WALTER SISULU UNIVERSITY.

Tentatively: 4–6 September 2025

The theme of the conference will be announced shortly.

Watch the CONFERENCE PAGE for more details.

Go to MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS to see the advantages of joining. If you are a first-time member, click on JOIN SAVAH. Alternatively, you can use the offline form below to apply for membership (instructions are on the form).

Our membership cycle runs from 1 July to 30 June but you can join at any time, and if you join for the first time after 1 March of a given year your membership will run up to 30 June the following year (up to four months' bonus membership).