Consultants and team

Les Cohn

Art Source South Africa was established in 2001 by Les Cohn, a qualified artist and an experienced arts administrator. She holds a BA Fine Art from the Michaelis School of Art at the University of Cape Town and graduated with an H.Dip in Fine Arts from the Technikon Witwatersrand (now University of Johannesburg), where she was awarded a Technikon Merit Medal. Les Cohn gained a Diploma in Arts and Culture Management from the Public & Development Management School, Graduate School of Business at the University of the Witwatersrand.

She has served on the Executive of the Friends of the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), was an Executive Council member of Artist Proof Studios (APS) and a board member of Bosele Papermaking Project, Lehurutse. She is professionally active at many levels within the South African contemporary arts sector.

Les Cohn is a dynamic fine artist and arts project consultant well networked within the South African cultural sector. Her unique combination of qualifications, extensive experience in development and management positions, and various board connections, position her ideally to take a leading role in industry initiatives. She brings professionalism, experience, enthusiasm and energy to any project she undertakes and is, above all, passionate about developing the sector and enhancing its professional image.

Taryn Cohn

After completing a BA Fine Art (Hons) from the University of Stellenbosch, Taryn went on to obtain a Master of Philosophy in Cultural Development (under the co-supervision of Stellenbosch University's Department of Sociology, and the Technikon of the Witwatersrand Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture under Kim Berman). Since 2002 she has worked in various capacities within the sphere of arts management and cultural marketing. Her past projects and clients include The Sasol Wax Art Award, The Brett Kebble Art Award, The Zenex Foundation and as the marketing manager of Constitution Hill, among others.

Her areas of speciality include marketing and communications for art and development projects, financial management, project management and strategy.

Taryn writes regularly on matters of arts and culture and entertainment for several well known publications and is the host of a weekly radio show focusing on Johannesburg for the community station Radio Today.

She joined Art Source in 2006, bringing to this project her considerable knowledge of the mechanics and impact of arts and the media in contemporary South Africa.

Nkosingiphile Khumalo

After joining Art Source South Africa as an intern in May 2009, she graduated from the University of Johannesburg with a diploma in Public Relations Management. After her internship was completed, she joined Art Source South full time in February 2010 as a Public Relations and Project Coordinator.

Nkosingiphile is a creative person who enjoys reading South African poetry literature and she is well versed in contemporary poetry. Music is also one of her core interests. She is an avid reader and passionate about understanding the media industry. She has completed an internship at the Radio Today Academy where she was trained in technical and content production for radio broadcast.

Nkosingiphile Khumalo is an attentive young person who is committed to her work and excited with the prospect of making her mark in the Public Relations industry through the dynamic art industry.

We are excited to have her on board.