The Artists Library is an online database of publicly submitted digital catalogues. It aims to be an accessible research repository by making available artists\\\’ research and related publications searchable internationally.
By countering the peripheralisation of Black African thought and writing, the Artists Library platform becomes the space where self-publishing efforts are made accessible and visible. In functioning as a directory of researcher and thematic aggregation platform, the project is an exercise in appreciating creative and academic self-publishing in the humanities and social sciences in Southern Africa and its broad intellectual economies.
The project commits to transformative pedagogies premised on epistemic justice within the creative practises. As a critical intervention, the project considers how to resolve the citational practices that have shaped the current publishing environment. Over time and through collaboration, the Artists Library platform hopes to extend citational practices that broaden the engagement with African knowledge production ecologies.
The Artists Library was founded in 2017 by Nadja Daehnke working together with Robyn-Leigh Cedras and Nkule Mabaso.
In 2020 this initial iteration of the Artists Library was deregistered and legally dissolved.
In 2021, the platform was re launched as a research platform by Nkule Mabaso, Natal Collective and new partner institutions.
For comment, suggestions, corrections or submission of catalogues please contact Nkule Mabaso on nkule@nkulemabaso.com