ImpACT Awards finalists announced

To date, the ACT Awards have recognised over 140 individuals and organisations for their significant contribution to art, culture and heritage in South Africa. These awards show the sustainable impact that ACT pursues in the creative industry. This will be the fifth year that ACT's partnership with the Distell Foundation will feature yet another group of young professionals being lauded for the impression they have made in the first five years of their careers.

ACT's CEO, Pieter Jacobs, said: "The ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals highlight exceptional talent in the industry. This spotlight creates a platform for these young individuals who might not otherwise receive this kind of recognition - recognition that has the potential powerfully to propel sustainable careers in a highly competitive industry."

With the Distell Foundation's support, the ImpACT Awards for young professionals are given annually to honour young artists or businesses that have reached a notable level in their career. Giving the masses a voice through the public nomination process, ACT boasts an excellent selection of these individuals in the categories of Theatre, Visual Art, Design and Music & Singing, and the newly added Dance category.

An array of talented creatives

This year's ImpACT Awards finalists include an array of talented creatives ranging from graphic and interior designers, dancers, visual artists, curators and entrepreneurs; to singers, songwriters and musicians; and playwrights, actors and directors.

Each winner will receive a cash prize of R2000, a certificate, a spread in Creative Feel Magazine worth over R30,000 and additional PR opportunities that will be generated through the ACT Awards. ImpACT Award recipients will also get ongoing backing from ACT in the form promotional support in their professional careers.

The judges for this year's competition include: musician Sibongile Khumalo, Fine Arts and Arts Education Professor David Andrew, choreographer Jayesperi Moopen, actress Warona Seane and arts and culture development expert and consultant David Thatanelo April. The Convenor of the judging panel and ACT Trustee, Moopen said: "The criteria we used as a panel was to honour artistic achievement and the impact of that concept and its aesthetic quality demonstrating talent, determination, imagination and risks."

The cornerstone of the ACT Awards is the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Awards for Visual Arts, Theatre, Arts Advocacy, Music and Literature. Lifetime Achievement Award winners are nominated and selected by the ACT Board of Trustees, the recipient is someone that the sponsors are proud to acknowledge for their contribution to the arts.

The judges specifically choose winners who stand out due to the artistic excellence of their work; their experience in the industry and the impact this has had on their community and the commerce of the creative industry as a whole. The Lifetime Achievement Award winners will each receive R30,000 cash prize, totalling a R750,000 since 2008.

This year, in addition to the five existing Lifetime Achievement Award categories, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) have come on board to support the introduction of the Dance Lifetime Achievement Award. "JTI is thrilled to have partnered ACT in introducing this award. Dance is perhaps the most under-recognised and un-awarded of the arts disciplines. South Africa's dancers and choreographers make a profound contribution to the local and international dance landscape and we thank ACT for affording JTI the opportunity to give them the recognition they so richly deserve," said Corporate Affairs and Legal Director for JTI, Lizette Rau.

The Awards ceremony will take place on 2 November, 2015, at Sun International's The Maslow in Sandton, Joburg. For more information, go to www.act.org.za