OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS
WERE YOU TRAINED AT ACHIMOTA?
The Dei Centre invites artists, photographers, sculptors, and makers with a connection to Achimota School to submit work for a landmark six-part exhibition series marking the school’s centenary.
ABOUT THE SERIES
In 2027, Achimota School marks one hundred years of existence — one hundred years of educating Ghanaians who have gone on to shape the nation’s political, intellectual, and cultural life. Among those Ghanaians are some of the most significant artists, sculptors, photographers, ceramicists, and designers this country has produced.
The Achimota School Centenary Exhibition Series is a six-part programme developed by the Dei Centre for the Study of Modern African Art in partnership with an Akora of Achimota School. Running from late March to August 2027, the series brings together work from across the full sweep of Achimota’s artistic legacy — from the pioneers of the independence era to the practitioners working today.
Each exhibition in the series takes a distinct curatorial focus, from the early Ghanaian modernists who helped build a visual language for an independent nation, to the women artists whose contributions have been insufficiently celebrated, to the emerging practitioners who are remaking Ghanaian contemporary art on their own terms.
Achimota has always produced people who move forward. This series exists to document, celebrate, and critically engage with what Achimota-trained artists have made — across a century.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
This open call is for artists who have a direct connection to Achimota School — as a student, graduate, or former member of staff in an arts-related capacity. We welcome submissions from:
- Painters, sculptors, ceramicists, printmakers, and draughtsmen
- Photographers and lens-based artists
- Textile artists, weavers, and fibre practitioners
- Illustrators, graphic artists, and designers working in fine art contexts
- Multi-disciplinary and installation artists
- Artists working in digital and new media
We are particularly interested in hearing from artists who trained at Achimota but have not previously exhibited or been formally documented — whose work exists but has not yet been seen. We are also actively seeking women artists, artists based outside Accra, and artists from earlier generations whose work may not be widely known.
There is no age limit and no restriction on where you are currently based. You do not need to be represented by a gallery. You do not need to have exhibited before. What matters is the work, and the Achimota connection.
THE SIX EXHIBITIONS
# |
Exhibition Title |
Date |
Focus |
01 |
Threads of a Nation |
Late March 2027 |
Early Ghanaian modernism & Achimota’s founding role |
02 |
Pioneers of the Palette |
April 2027 |
The first generation of trained Ghanaian painters |
03 |
After Independence − Advancing in Freedom |
May 2027 |
Art and national identity post-1957 |
04 |
Her Brush, Her Voice |
June 2027 |
Women artists across generations |
05 |
The Gaze and Grip of the Young Lions |
July 2027 |
Early-career contemporary practitioners |
06 |
From the Treasure Chest |
August 2027 |
Patronage, collecting, and the Dei Collection |
WHAT TO SUBMIT
To be considered for inclusion in the series, please send the following:
- A brief artist statement (maximum 300 words) describing your practice and your connection to Achimota School
- 5–10 images of your work (JPEG or PNG, minimum 1MB each), with titles, dates, media, and dimensions
- A short biography or CV (maximum one page)
- Your contact details: name, phone number, email address, and location
If you are submitting on behalf of a deceased artist who trained at Achimota, please include a note explaining your relationship to the artist and the work, and any relevant provenance or documentation you have available.
HOW TO SUBMIT
- By email: info@deicentre.com with the subject line: OPEN CALL — [Your Name]
- In person: No. 7A Ninth Street, Tesano, Accra (Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm)
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
All submissions will be reviewed by the curatorial team. Artists whose work is being considered for inclusion will be contacted directly. We will not be able to provide individual feedback on submissions that are not selected, but all submitted materials will be treated with care and confidentiality.
Selected artists will be invited to an in-person conversation with the curators. Inclusion in the series involves a formal exhibition agreement, which will be shared at that stage.
The Dei Centre is committed to fair and transparent practice. Artists whose work is exhibited will receive a formal loan agreement, full documentation of their work, and recognition in all printed and digital materials associated with the series.
ABOUT THE DEI CENTRE
The Dei Centre for the Study of Modern African Art is a gallery and cultural hub located at No. 7A Ninth Street, Tesano, Accra. It is home to the Dei Collection — one of the largest documented private collections of contemporary Ghanaian art — and serves as a space for exhibition, research, education, and dialogue about modern and contemporary African art.
The Centre was established at the family residence of the late Seth Dei, who assembled the collection over several decades with a commitment to Ghanaian and African visual culture. It is directed by Nana Ama Dei.
ENQUIRIES
For questions about the open call or the exhibition, contact us at info@deicentre.com or call
+233 55 403 8145.
No. 7A Ninth Street, Tesano, Accra
Achimota School Centenary Exhibition Series 2027