ACT Awards 2002 finalists

By placing a range of activities, without which the arts would not thrive, in the spotlight, the awards aim to improve the conditions under which the arts are produced. They develop awareness and appreciation of allied arts industries and open the field for a greater sense of participation in the cultural life of our country.

This year the awards attracted a wide range of entries in the various categories - a manifestation of the growing body of dedicated professionals working in the media, publicity, management, education, finance and capacity building who provide quality services to the local cultural sector. It is an indication that the awards are considered significant and are thus intensely competed for.

All the nominees and finalists for the 2002 ACT Awards are therefore commended for their fine work and their participation. The finalists, judged by an independent panel to represent the highest levels of professionalism, dedication, leadership and achievements in their respective fields, are all warmly congratulated by the ACT Board of Trustees and our sponsors. We also thank the adjudicators for their time and expertise.

ARTS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Old Mutual

1. Bokaba, Shadrack
2. Lombard, Rashid
3. Tembe, Bongani

ARTS & CULTURE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Sun International

1. Constant, Michelle
2. ka Mathe, Themba
3. Swerdlow, Alan

MEDIA IN SUPPORT OF THE ARTS (ELECTRONIC & PRINT)

Sponsored by Vodacom Foundation

1. Peter Cilliers Production for Kyknet
2. SAFM
3. Sowetan Sunday World - Hola,

ARTS & CULTURE PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Vodacom Foundation

1. Cutts, Genevieve
2. Lentit, Rodney
3. Tin Can Communication

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR (INCLUDING EDUCATION)

Sponsored by Sasol

1. District Six Museum Ambassador Programme
2. Moving into Dance Mophatong
3. Remix Theatre Company
4. Steps for the Future

INTERNATIONAL ARTS & CULTURE SPONSOR OF THE YEAR

Non-monetary award

1. The British Council
2. The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS)
3. The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)

ACT BEST PRACTICE PROJECT

Sponsored by the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT)

1. Buskaid Soweto String Project
2. Co-Opera Company East London Guild
3. Field Band Foundation

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Sponsored by SA Breweries

The Lifetime Achievement Award Winner is nominated by the Trustees of ACT and will be announced at the Award Ceremony.

Our warmest congratulations to all the finalists - the Arts & Culture Trust salutes you!

The Award Ceremony takes place on Thursday 10 October 2002, at Nedcor, Sandown.

The Panel of Judges

Executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, Gwen Ansell's arts journalism and media training career spans nearly 30 years. She is the author of several books, was the producer of the community radio documentary series Ubuyile/Jazz Coming Home for ABC Ulwazi and writes a weekly jazz column in Business Day

An independent arts and culture consultant, Bongi Dhlomo-Mautloa has lectured widely on South African art and has exhibited internationally. She worked on the first two Johannesburg Biennales, and was the founding director of the Africus Institute for Contemporary Art.

Nise Malange is director of the BAT Centre Trust. A scriptwriter, theatre director and published poet, whose work has appeared in collections internationally, she runs creative writing workshops with youths who are victims of violence and abuse. Nise is a trustee of Children First and the Arts & Culture Trust.

Assistant editor of City Press, Sandile Memela writes a provocative, analytical column Mamelang. He has worked as an arts & culture journalist for the last twelve years and holds a number of prestigious diplomas and degrees from South African and international institutions.

Professor John van Zyl was Head of Media Studies at Witwatersrand University for 20 years. He was also Programme Director for the Direct Cinema Community Filmmaking Project in the Eighties. He was awarded the Pringle Prize for his long-running TV column for THE STAR, and was one of the founders of Classic FM in 1997. He is presently Executive Director of ABC Ulwazi, the educational radio production and training house.

WHAT IS THE ARTS & CULTURE TRUST?

South Africa's first national funding agency to emerge in post-apartheid South Africa, the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) was established just months after the inauguration of the first democratically elected government in 1994, and now celebrates eight years of existence.

ACT is the product of a bold partnership between government, the private sector and civil society. Today the Founding Trustees are the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Nedbank, Sun International, Vodacom and the Royal Netherlands Embassy - a unique alignment of organisations involved in the promotion and development of culture.