Absa L'Atelier art competition opens

In the past, only the overall winner and the recipient of the Gerard Sekoto Award for the most promising artist were awarded residencies at the Cité Internationale des Arts in France. This year, two additional residencies are being made available for two Merit Award winners, chosen by Absa through the adjudication process. These include a two-month stint at the Sylt Foundation on the Island of Sylt in Germany and a one-month stay at the Ampersand Foundation in New York.

"It's so exciting that we're able to offer four international art residencies this year," says Dr Paul Bayliss, Absa Art and Museum curator. "This helps us further the objective of the competition, which is to develop the talents of young South African artists abroad. Four young artists will now be exposed to the experience that comes with travelling and studying abroad."

Entry criteria

The two categories are the main Absa L'Atelier Art Award, and the Gerard Sekoto Award, chosen by Absa through the adjudication process, for the most promising artist with an income less than R60,000 per annum. Entries may be submitted at the regional collection points from 4 March 2013 with the closing date for all entries being 8 March 2013. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form, the artworks, a picture of the artworks, a CV of the artist (not longer than one A4 page), a creative rationale from the artist for the pieces (maximum 150 words), and a certified copy of the artist's ID book.

• All young artists aged 21-35 who are permanent South African residents are invited to participate.
  
• Art students, meeting these requirements, and who are in their final year of study may also enter.
  
• A maximum of three works, submitted at only one regional collection point, may be entered per artist.
  
• Only original art works may be entered, and these works must have been completed in the 24 months prior to the closing date of the competition.

Prizes

• First Prize: R125,000 from Absa, a return air ticket to a return air ticket to Paris and at least three months (and not more than six months) study and accommodation at the Cité Internationale des Arts
  
• Gerard Sekoto: A return air ticket to Paris and three months' stay in the Cité Internationale des Arts, sponsored by Alliance Française: The French Institute and the French Embassy.
  
• Merit Award Prizes:
  • Return flights to and from Germany, a R5000 per month stipend, R2000 from Absa and two months' stay at the Sylt Foundation,
    
  • Return flights to and from New York, a US$35 per day stipend, R2000 from Absa and one month's stay at the Ampersand Foundation. The winner of this prize will also become a Fellow of the Ampersand Foundation.

The South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA) makes the Cité Internationale des Arts residencies available in Paris.

For more, go to www.absalatelier.co.za