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#YouthMatters this Youth Day

PAULSHOF – In celebration of Youth Day, Bont Huijs at Design Quarter is hosting the #YouthMatters art competition to support young talent.

 


As Youth Day (16 June) approaches, Werner Bonthuys has figured out a way to celebrate and support creativity among the youth – the first-ever #YouthMatters art competition.

Bonthuys owns the Bont Huijs mantel, art and decor shop located at the Design Quarter Shopping Centre and is introducing the competition for the first time this year. Four aspiring artists from each of three participating schools will submit a work of art inspired by the theme of Youth Day, which will then be displayed in close proximity to Bont Huijs.

On 14 June, one work from each school will be chosen by a panel of judges, and from there, members of the public will be able to vote for the overall winner via social media or at Bont Huijs from 14 until 16 June.

While the winning artist will receive a gift voucher worth

R5 000, an equal amount of money will also be donated to Diepsloot Secondary School, where it will be used to purchase art supplies for artists. This way, young artists from advantaged and disadvantaged homes will have their passion and talent supported.

Werner Bonthuys of the Bont Huijs gallery at Design Quarter is holding the first-ever Youth Matters art competition this month.
Photo: Robyn Kirk

The winning piece will also be printed and featured on a number of bottles of Taillard red wine.

“I wanted to do something for Youth Day that incorporated the arts,” Bonthuys explained when asked what he hoped to achieve with the competition.

“I’m so fond of young artists, but I know that if they don’t get a break in the art world, they’ll probably go get a regular job.”

Bonthuys will be acting as a judge for the school submissions, along with renowned South African artist Rudi Trap and self-taught (and up-and-coming) artist Nthando Ngwenya. Along with Bont Huijs, PNA, the Design Quarter Shopping Centre, and Taillard Family Wines are all providing backing.

“I’ll be looking for honesty in the pieces submitted. A lot of people can draw, but I want to see something that shows that youth matters, I want to see something produced from the soul.”

The schools invited to submit artworks are Hoërskool Linden, Crawford College Sandton, and Bryanston High School.

Hannetjie Malan, who teaches visual arts at Crawford College Sandton said, “We are honoured and delighted at the same time to have been invited to participate.

“It was a bit tricky to decide which pupils would participate, but we felt that we would like to give an opportunity to our senior students [grades 11 and 12]. We also tried to select works which we felt would tie in with the theme.”

Malan added that she hoped the experience would teach the kids confidence and to trust their instincts when they are creating art. She added that it was lovely for her school to be invited to participate in such a competition.

“I sincerely hope that Bont Huijs will be able to make this an annual event and I wish them well with this wonderful initiative.”

To follow the competition or find out more, visit the Bont Huijs Facebook and Instagram accounts. Visitors who vote in store from 14 June onwards will also receive a R2 500 gift voucher.

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Church offers prayer on Global Youth Day

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