Latitudes Podcast is the voice of art from Africa.
Hosted by Refiloe Mpakanyane, the podcast explores new ways of accessing and thinking about the contemporary visual arts from Africa, while also seeking to build strong community and a robust archive of thought leadership. The podcast serves as both a resource and a platform for critical discourse, bridging regional perspectives and shaping the conversation about art from Africa and the diaspora.
The Latitudes Podcast is sponsored by iTOO Artinsure and is brought to you by Latitudes Online, a digital marketplace for Art from Africa - curated by experts.
Carla and Pieter Schulting: The Collector As A Patron Of The Arts
In this final episode of season two, Refiloe Mpakanyane speaks to Carla and Pieter Schulting, Dutch collectors whose journey into contemporary African art has grown into a 350+ artwork collection representing all 54 countries on the continent.
They share how one encounter with an Ethiopian artist sparked an unexpected pivot in their collecting life, eventually leading to Africa Supernova, the blockbuster exhibition at Kunsthal KAdE that drew tens of thousands of visitors and helped introduce new audiences to contemporary African art.
At various points in the conversation, Carla and Pieter explore their mission to share the Schulting Art Collection with the world; the important role that art plays in their lives; as well as how they nurture relationships with the artists whose works are part of their collection.
Carla and Pieter are earnest and inspiring when talking about the custodial role they play in looking after their collection for “future generations”.
Highlights Include:
· How curiosity became a mission to amplify African artists globally
· The realities of caring for and living with a large art collection
· Why supporting young, emerging artists matters
· The relationships they build with artists – and how they offer guidance
· How Instagram unexpectedly expanded the visibility of their collection
· What it means to act as patrons, not just collectors
Referenced exhibitions & institutions:
· Africa Supernova
· Kunsthal KAdE
· Afriart Gallery
· BMW Art Magazine
· Azu Nwagbogu
· Agnes Wanguru
Chapter 4 (Insights from the Collectors) spans episodes 9-11 of Season 2 of the Latitudes Podcast. It takes a closer look at art collecting as both a cultural and financial practice. Featuring collectors, gallerists, and market experts, this chapter explores the nuances of taste, market influence, and the evolving role of collectors.
Powered by iTOO Artinsure
Supported by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)
Co-curated by Art School Africa
Hosted by Refiloe Mpakanyane
26 Nov 2025
Justin Naylor and Carel Nolte: Beyond Collecting and Investing in Artists
On this episode of the Latitudes Podcast, Refiloe Mpakanyane is joined by Justin Naylor and Carel Nolte. Justin is the CEO of iTOO ArtInsure (sponsors of the Latitudes Podcast) and Carel is the Chief Enablement Officer of Easy Equities. Both are ardent wine and art collectors whose interests have blended with their work as well.
This conversation gives an insurer’s perspective on the enduring appeal of art and most importantly how to protect one’s portfolio. Underpinned by a decades-long friendship that started in the workplace, Justin and Carel’s observations on investing & collectibles are filled with friendly banter as well as much talk of wine, friendship and family.
The abiding theme is appreciating how much the creative industries contribute to society.
Highlights Include:
Friendship and the importance of family
The power of art and artists: why artists move society forward
The iTOO ArtInsure stolen art directory
The power of marketing internally to grow and support the African art value chain
Collecting as a long term investment
Referenced exhibitions & institutions:
Art Basel UBS Report 2025
Vladimir Tretchikoff
William Kentridge
Easy Equities
Chapter 4 (Insights from the Collectors) spans episodes 9-11 of Season 2 of the Latitudes Podcast. It takes a closer look at art collecting as both a cultural and financial practice. Featuring collectors, gallerists, and market experts, this chapter explores the nuances of taste, market influence, and the evolving role of collectors.
Powered by iTOO Artinsure
Supported by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)
Co-curated by Art School Africa
Hosted by Refiloe Mpakanyane
12 Nov 2025
Buoyancy & Belief: Inside a South African gallerists world with Emma van der Merwe
Buoyancy & Belief: Inside a South African gallerists world with Emma van der Merwe
In this episode Refiloe Mpakanyane talks to Everard Read Cape Town Gallery Director, Emma van der Merwe from the dealer’s perspective, talking about the quiet contracts that hold the art world together — trust, instinct, and love for the work itself. In this conversation, she lifts the curtain on the energy and potential driving South Africa’s art scene, reflecting on the delicate balance between representing artists and believing in their long game — with buoyancy at the heart of it all.
Emma’s interests in the arts were given the go ahead by her parents with only one condition: that she not walk in their footsteps. And differentiate herself she did! Emma grew up in Switzerland and France, and studied her Bachelors and Masters in Fine Art - at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, before completing a Master’s in Art Management at City University, also in London.
In this conversation she talks about how Slade gave her access to mentors, teachers and institutions that gave her nothing short of a ‘privileged start’. Even while this same start in the London Arts scene involved no hand holding or indeed involved no blueprint to growth or success.
In 2011 Emma joined the SMAC Art Gallery as its curator when its Cape Town doors were opened. Her next notable move was in July 2014 when Emma joined Everard Read Gallery Cape Town, as their Head Curator. In July 2018 she became a Director of the Gallery.
Emma talks at length about the energy, potential and allure of South Africa’s art industry which continue to enthral newcomers to our shores.
The conversation runs the gamut of nurturing artistic talent; best practice for representing artists; as well as Emma’s insights on forging and maintaining relationships with buyers. Emma also weighs in on collector trends and gives her take on their importance.
In sharing what she knows for sure - Emma comes up with a few slogans to live and work by: The vibes have got to be right!
Highlights Include:
Studying at Slade and being mentored by DamePhyllida Barlow
Starting out in the London art scenes and working at blue chip Galleries
Getting to work with the likes of Damien Hirst, Sam Taylor Wood and Jenny Saville (among so many others)
Deciding to come to South Africa and why the Cape Town ecosystem is compelling
The key to artist and collector relationships
Referenced exhibitions & institutions:
Slade School of Fine Art
Goldsmiths
St Martins
White Cube
Gagosian
Ruth Proust
Everard Read
Brett Seiler
Chapter 4 (Insights from Collectors) spans episodes 9-11 of Season 2 of the Latitudes Podcast. It takes a closer look at art collecting as both a cultural and financial practice. Featuring collectors, gallerists, and market experts, this chapter explores the nuances of taste, market influence, and the evolving role of collectors.
Powered by iTOO Artinsure
Supported by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)
Co-curated by Art School Africa
Hosted by Refiloe Mpakanyane
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 14 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
18
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
27
Contact Latitudes Podcast
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Latitudes Podcast?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
