Deadline for taxi foundation arts awards submissions looms

The SA Taxi Foundation Art Awards, a watershed and leading global initiative on mobile art has reminded artists to submit this year’s entries before the deadline on 13 February.

This year’s awards will be the third addition and under the brief, My Africa.

The main winner’s award is worth R700 000 with a cash amount of R50 000, while each of the top five finalists awards is valued at R660 000 with R10 000 cash prizes.

The foundation’s director Lishani Letchmiah urged the artists to submit their original artwork which for the winners, will be made into decals to be displayed for six months on 10 minibus taxis countrywide. The vehicles will effectively become mobile art galleries exposing the artists’ work on the streets for the majority of citizens to see.

“This artists-taxi collaboration will help to broaden the art’s impact on society as an expression, reflection and cross-over between fine art and graphic design,” Letchmiah said. “It will further open doors for emerging fine artists into the world of commerce with the taxis marketing their art brands and position the taxi industry as a patron of the arts and important contributor to the psychological and emotional well-being of society.”

Before they are made into decals, the winner and finalists work will be displayed for a month at the Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Rosebank to expose the emerging artists among connoisseurs and to the formal art industry.

Details:  Lizamore & Associates Gallery 011 880 8802, suen@lizamore.co.za

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