New Signatures entries open
JOBURG - Entries for South Africa's longest running national art competition, Sasol New Signatures, have opened.
This year, Sasol will celebrate its 25th year as a lead sponsor of the competition that was established by the Association of Arts Pretoria in the 60s.
The petrol giant’s sponsorship manager, Richard Hughes said the competition was not only a stepping stone into the South African art milieu, but a gateway to the visual arts on a global level.
He added that the competition provided an excellent platform for emerging artists to apply their skills, express their creative talent, and enter the professional art world.
Artists may enter their works at various national collection points.
The winner will receive a R100 000 cash prize and a solo exhibition at the Pretoria Arts Museum next year.
The runner-up will receive a cash prize of R25 000, and the five merit winners will receive R10 000 each.
Sasol, in partnership with the Association of Arts Pretoria, will host nationwide university information sessions that will cover the history and logistics of the competition, concepts and titles of works, presentation techniques, installations, and issues related to working in different media.
“Although hundreds of works are received, only the best works are… selected to form part of the competition. The information sessions serve as a tutorial on how to prepare entries for consideration,” said competition judging panel chairperson, Peter Binsbergen.
“We are looking for artists who push boundaries and challenge social issues with innovative and conceptual thinking, and we encourage artists who are able to explore overlooked issues and encourage debate through their works.”
Binsbergen encouraged emerging artists who believed they have what it took to make an impact in the art industry to submit one or two artworks at any of the collection points on 15 or 16 July, between 10am and 4pm.
The competition is open to artists who are 18 years and older and have not held a solo exhibition (a body of at least 20 works exhibited in a commercial gallery) except for academic purposes.
Details: Nandi Hilliard 012 346 3100; 083 288 5117;Â www.sasolnewsignatures.co.za; artspta@mweb.co.za
