What it takes to create a winning artwork for a national art competition
The competition is open to all South African visual artists over 18 years who have not yet held a solo exhibition.
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The Sasol New Signatures Art Competition takes place annually and is the longest-running of its kind in South Africa. Works in all visual arts mediums can be entered.
Chairperson of the competition, Pfunzo Sidogi and Sasol art curator Cate Terblanche will be hosting a series of Information Sessions in the form of tutorial videos. These videos are aimed at prospective entrants to ensure that their work is competition-ready and of the high standard required to stand a chance to be selected for the final exhibition and catalogue.
Among other topics, the videos will demystify the entry form and its requirements, outline the importance of submitting a clearly worded biography and artist’s statement, and will provide tips on how to best present your artwork. The info session videos will be aired twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays, which commenced on Monday 8 May on Sasol and the Association of Arts Pretoria’s Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/pretoriaartsassociation and https://www.facebook.com/SasolLTD
The videos will then be available for ongoing viewing on the Sasol New Signatures YouTube channel which can be located at www.sasolsignatures.co.za
The following topics will be covered:
- General conditions: Why enter? Who can enter? Type of works including visual art and performance art. Dates and selection points.
- Understanding the entry form
- Preparing your art: Delivery of art, framing, displaying art, signing work and the Pretoria Art Museum’s hanging system.
- Supporting documentation: CVs, biographies, synopsis, etc.
- What makes a winning work? Judging process and what the judges look for, previous winners and their works.
“We strongly encourage all entrants to take the time to view these information sessions and to download the supporting fact sheets from the website. These valuable insights will help emerging artists not only for this competition but also as they move forward in their career,” said Sidogi.
Artworks can be submitted at one of several collection points around the country on Tuesday, 6 June and Wednesday, 7 June from 10:00 to 16:00. A completed entry form and supporting documentation must be submitted along with the artworks.
The winner of the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition will receive R100 000 and the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at next year’s exhibition. The runner up will receive R25 000 and the five merit award winners will each walk away with R10 000. Approximately 100 artworks will be selected to be featured in the official Sasol New Signatures catalogue for 2023 and be included in an exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum from 7 September to 29 October 2023.
Information Session video 1 – click here
Call for entry video – click here
Entry Form – click here