Over the past decade, Spier Arts Trust has changed many lives by creating an environment in which local artists have been able to build sustainable careers.
Spier Arts Trust (SAT), a non-profit, purpose-driven cultural organisation, was established in 1996 by Dick Enthoven, a visionary, art lover and successful businessman who had purchased Spier Wine Farm three years earlier. His dream for the trust was to “enable the discovery and nurturing of new and exciting talent … and to enrich the local community both culturally and economically”, according to Gilly Hemphill in Artslink (2004).
As an intermediary, SAT contributes to building a market for South African arts by promoting, sharing and celebrating the artistic and cultural heritage of the country and its people.
Mirna Wessels has held the reins of SAT since 2015, when she became chief executive officer, and she works with Tamlin Blake as chief curator. With a team of specialists, they have shaped the programmes and grown the collections of original South African artworks on public display throughout Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch and in Nando’s restaurants around the world.
For more than 20 years, SAT has administered patron art collections that include the Spier Collection (comprising 7000 works, of which 1000 are Creative Blocks) and the Nando’s Collection (32 000 works, of which 21 000 are Creative Blocks).
We talked to Mirna about two of SAT’s initiatives: House Union Block and Spier Creative Block.
How did House Union Block (HUB) come about?
In 2020, Covid brought a pause to business as we know it. During this time, we decided to extend our programmes and client base to beyond our patron network. That’s when House Union Block (HUB) was conceived. It is primarily giving fine artists who are in our network but not signed with galleries an opportunity to exhibit and sell their work. We aim to offer our extensive catalogue of South African contemporary art – diverse in content and price – to interior designers who manage design projects for hotel chains and corporates.
HUB’s services to designers and architects include collaborations between fine artists and professionals working in the interior design and architecture sectors, including site-specific commissions. HUB connects fine artists from our network with skilled artisans from various affiliate HUB studios, including Hammered Rocks Mosaic Studio, Keiskamma Arts Project and Qaqambile Bead Studio, some of which are also based at Union House. These collaborations result in renowned works that have been included in our collections.
What makes Spier Creative Block special and what are its aims?
Spier Creative Block is a wonderful way to support young artists early in their careers. For collectors, Creative Block offers an approachable and affordable way to introduce original contemporary art – and their collections can grow over time. We have also seen some Creative Blocks sold on auction for 12 times the price we charge!
We have a rigorous application process and only consider professional artists who wish to make a career from practising art. Since starting in 2004, we have purchased 38 000 artworks from 433 artists, many of whom are self-taught.
Some artists have participated since the beginning – which means we have bought more than 500 Creative Blocks from a number of artists:
- Boyce Magandela
- Ernest Fulani
- Fikile Mqhayi
- Khayalethu Sineyile
- Lindile Magunya
- Nkoali Nawa
- Sandile Ashabangane Mhlongo
- Selvin November
- Timothy Zantsi
- Velile Soha
We have monthly hand-in days in three main centres across South Africa (Cape Town, Johannesburg and Gqeberha), where invited artists bring in their artworks, having transformed blank ‘blocks’, which we supply (MDF board cut to a specific size).
On a busy hand-in day we see about 85 artists mingle and converse, which means that we’re facilitating community engagement for people who often work in isolation.
Tamlin Blake, as chief curator, critiques the selection that each artist presents, providing constructive feedback on their technical skills, use of materials and their ideas and process. We never tell artists how or what to create, but rather help them to find their authentic voice in a safe environment.
Tamlin picks the best works from that hand-in day and all the artists are paid within 48 hours. This is another special feature of the programme, as it provides artists, especially emerging ones, with a means to continue practising their art at a very vulnerable stage of their careers.
Spier Creative Block is a Spier Wine farm Growing for Good initiative – the purchasing cycle provides regular income, while the reviews enable us to see artists’ consistent output and commitment, so it becomes an entry into our other art-sourcing programmes for the collections.
We sell Creative Block online through HUB’s website.
Collectors can also find us at the annual Latitudes Art Fair in Johannesburg and Solo Studios in Riebeek Valley, and we sell through a number of partners (Spier Wine Farm, AVA Gallery, Sisonke Gallery, Saxon Hotel, GFI Gallery).
TWO SAT ARTISTS
Hanien Conradie
Hanien’s Creative Block journey has been shaped by the unusual demands of the small square surface format. Working with natural pigments, she discovered that her subtle ochre works, which are deeply rooted in landscape, memory and earth, can appear muted when placed alongside brighter, synthetic colours. This insight led her to submit for Creative Block bold black-and-white ink pieces that embrace contrast, simplicity and clarity. Her blocks have become intimate, hand-sized offerings where material and meaning meet, carrying the quiet pulse of place. She hopes collectors feel a sense of stillness and ancient connection when holding one of her works.
The mentorship and community that Hanien has experienced by participating in Creative Block have also profoundly shaped her path. Guidance to focus on one method transformed her practice, leading to the distinctive yellow-and-black works that moved from small blocks to confident large-scale canvases. In a challenging art landscape where slower, process-based practices are often over- shadowed, Creative Block and SAT have been a vital lifeline for Hanien. They’ve offered the environment her subtle work requires, the time to grow her approach and the courage to remain true to a quieter, more contemplative artistic voice.
Hanien currently has a solo show at Spier’s Old Wine Cellar, which runs until 22 February 2026.
Tafadzwa Tega
From his early days studying Fine Art in Harare to sold-out booths at major international fairs, Tafadzwa’s work remains anchored in empathy, lived experience and a fascination with the overlooked rhythms of everyday life. Today he stands as a compelling contem- porary voice, shaped by community, collaboration and an unwaver- ing dedication to his craft.
Tafadzwa’s career has gained remarkable momentum through Creative Block, Nando’s Creative Exchange and international exhi- bition opportunities. His 2022 showcase at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair extended his solo exhibition Zumbani from Milan, which was a vibrant, colour-rich body of work rooted in Zimbabwean heritage and the symbolic healing power of the zumbani herb. The collec- tion sold out, with new audiences from Europe, America and South Africa connecting deeply with his storytelling, bold palette and the personal narratives of his sitters. For Tafadzwa, the greatest reward was as much the chance to engage directly with viewers and share the stories behind his work as the commercial success.
His trajectory continued with his selection for the prestigious 1–54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London, supported by Nando’s UK and SAT. A long-time Creative Block contributor, Tafadzwa credits participation in these programmes (and the mentorship and con- sistency they provided) with helping him build a sustainable artistic career.