Roger Ballen Centre
Resume
Year
2026
Client
Inside Out Foundation
Project
Institution Building
Categories
Institution Building Concept and development of the Roger Ballen Centre for Photography as a distinct institution separate from the Inside Out Centre for the Arts Full museum brief, spatial concept and design direction Bookstore concept, curation and setup Merchandise concept and production Brand & Identity Complete brand identity for the Roger Ballen Centre for Photography CI development including logo, typeface, colour palette and visual language All branded collateral and applications Communications & PR Full communications strategy for both institutions Press office setup and ongoing media relations R11 million in publicity generated for Fashion_The Image within three months Media partnerships — Wanted Magazine and Dead Radio All press releases, media kits and editorial content Programming Public program developed from scratch across both institutions Exhibition programming and curatorial support Fashion_The Image — the centre's first funded exhibition Inaugural Todi Johannesburg Photography Circle Educational programming — nearly 30 schools engaged through Fashion_The Image Fundraising & Grant Applications First successful funding applications in the institution's history Grants secured from the National Arts Council (NAC) Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) Presidential Employment Stimulus Fund Institut Français Audience Development Growth from under 200 visitors over three years to over 5,000 per exhibition Community and education outreach strategy School engagement programme
Credits
Institution Roger Ballen — Founder, Inside Out Foundation Alan Hayward — Marketing & Programmes Director Garreth van Niekerk — Director of Communications Joe van Rooyen — Architect, Roger Ballen Centre for Photography Eiger Foundation (Switzerland) — founding institutional partner Inside Out Centre Trust — governing body Art Direction — Wellington & Washington Nyanda Graphic Design — Julie Sol Roger Ballen Centre for Photography — Opening Exhibition PSYCHOPOMP! · September 2025 Roger Ballen — artist and founder Boris Eldagsen — curator Chaos Has Many Faces · October 2025 — January 2026 Roger Ballen — artist Thames & Hudson — publishers of Spirits and Spaces (international) · Jonathan Ball Publishers (local) Fashion_The Image · February — May 2026 Sharon Armstrong — lead curator Aspasia Karras — co-curator, editor of Wanted Magazine Dr Erica de Greef — African Fashion Research Institute Ayabukwa Magocoba — African Fashion Research Institute Brand South Africa Binwe Adebayo — media and communications lead Featured photographers and image-makers include: Koto Bolofo, Nontsikelelo Veleko, Kristin-Lee Moolman, Andile Buka, Nadine Ijewere, Aart Verrips, Kevin Mackintosh and over 100 further contributors across photography, film and installation Brand South Africa Funders National Arts Council (NAC) Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) Presidential Employment Stimulus Fund Institut Français South Africa Media partners Wanted Magazine Dead Radio
The Roger Ballen Centre for Photography average attendance grown from under 200 visitors per year to over 3,000 per show. Fashion_The Image generated over R11 million in publicity within three months.
Input
Roger Ballen Centre for Photography - no public program, no communications infrastructure, no funded exhibitions and no meaningful audience. A brief to build something new.
Output
Output Roger Ballen Centre for Photography conceived, designed and launched from scratch — including full brand identity, spatial design, programming, bookstore and merchandise. Public program built from zero. Average exhibition attendance grown from under 200 visitors over three years to over 3,000 per show. Fashion_The Image — the centre's first ever funded exhibition — secured support from the National Arts Council, DSAC, the Presidential Employment Stimulus Fund and the Institut Français, and generated over R11 million in publicity within three months. Nearly 30 schools through the doors. Inaugural Todi Johannesburg Photography Circle hosted. First media partnerships established with Wanted Magazine and Dead Radio.
Roger Ballen
Founder, Inside Out Foundation
