New Signatures art competition opens for entries

15 Mar 2012

The New Signatures art competition, established by the Association of Arts Pretoria in the early 1960s and sponsored by Sasol for the past 22 years, has opened for entries for the 2012 competition.

Pieter van Heerden (Association of Arts Pretoria); Iris Abbot and Cecile Loedolff (Sasol); Peter Binsbergen (National Chairman of Sasol New Signatures art competition) and Nandi Hilliard (Association of Arts Pretoria)

click to enlarge

Described as a platform for up and coming artists to launch their careers while being awarded for excellence, originality, innovation and perceptiveness, the overall winner will receive R60 000 in cash and an opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum next year. The prize money for the runner up and merit winners have increased to R20 000 for the runner-up and R5000 for each of the five merit winners.

2012 theme

According to Sasol's sponsorship manager, Richard Hughes, the theme for this year's competition is 'Emerge', which will entice the artists to reveal his/her talents by entering the competition. "The group has created a strong platform of evaluating, appreciating and advancing South Africa's emerging talent. Artists are offered a valuable learning experience with its outreach information sessions throughout the country."

The competition is open to artists who are 18 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.

Information sessions

Information sessions are held around the country to equip potential contestants with knowledge around the judging process, insight and background into the competition, advice on conceptualization, display and presentation of work. Artists are urged to attend, as this is an integral part of the entry process.

Hosted by the chair of Sasol New Signatures art competition's judging panel and artist, Peter Binsbergen, the free information sessions will run from 11 April-3 May 2012. Booking is essential.

Schedule

Wednesday 11 April 2012 10am Nelson Mandela Museum, Youth and Heritage Centre, Qunu, Mthatha. RSVP: 10 April 2012
Friday 13 April 2012, 10am at Oliewenhuis Art Museum, 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein. RSVP: 12 April 2012
Monday 16 April 2012, 10am at Van Riebeeck Hall, Drysdale Street, Nelspruit. RSVP: 13 April 2012
Wednesday 18 April 2012, 10am at Art B Gallery, Library Centre, Carel van Aswegen Street, Bellville. RSVP: 17 April 2012
Thursday 19 April 2012, 10am at Quad Gallery, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, School of Music, Art & Design, Port Elizabeth. RSVP: 18 April 2012
Friday 20 April 2012, 1pm at Durban University of Technology, Video Technology Theatre 2, City Campus, Smith Street Durban. RSVP: 19 April 2012
Wednesday 25 April 2012, 10am at Pretoria Art Museum, Corner of Schoeman and Wessels Streets, Arcadia Park, Pretoria. RSVP: 24 April 2012
Thursday 3 May 2012, 10am at Sasol Limited, 1 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg. RSVP: 2 May 2012

Submissions

Artists are invited to submit one or two artworks at one of several collection points around the country between Tuesday 3 July 2012 and Wednesday 4 July 2012.

Special arrangements have been made to coincide with this year's Innibos National Arts Festival in Nelspruit. Entries can be submitted to the Civic Centre, Nel Street, Nelspruit, on Wednesday 27 June 2012 between 10am and 4pm. Stuttafords Van Lines sponsors the transportation of artworks from the various collection points through to the judging process and finals in Pretoria.

Binsbergen says the competition is an excellent platform for young up-and-coming artists to display their work and to encourage a high standard of work in the arts community.

"This competition serves to benchmark young talent not only in South Africa but worldwide. From what we have seen in the past, young talent in South Africa may hold its own internationally and I look forward to seeing how young artists make new meanings and challenge boundaries in 2012. There may ultimately be one winner but being selected as a finalist in this competition carries with it the weighted status of being recognized as a young and up-and-coming South African artist," he concludes.

Public exhibition

The Sasol New Signatures exhibition will be open to public from Thursday 30 August 2012 to Sunday 2 September 2012.

For more on the competition or to book a place telephone Nandi on +27 (0) 12 346 3100 or +27 (0) 83 288 5117, email az.oc.bewm@atpstra or go to www.sasolsignatures.co.za.