2018 Standard Bank Young Artists announced

Now in its 36th year, the Standard Bank Young Artist (SBYA) awards are conferred by the National Arts Festival and Standard Bank on deserving young South African artists.

These budding stars join a prestigious pantheon of award winning artists who’ve gone on to shape South Africa’s creative economy and art history.

The winners are:

• Chuma Sopotela (Performance Art)
• Guy Buttery (Music)
• Igshaan Adams (Visual Art)
• Jemma Kahn (Theatre)
• Musa Hlatshwayo (Dance)
• Thandi Ntuli (Jazz)

National Arts Festival Executive Producer Ashraf Johaardien says: “The Standard Bank Young Artist platform is about securing and investing in the future of the arts. The list of illustrious Awards alumni dating back to 1984 includes iconic creatives like William Kentridge, Mbongeni Ngema, Johnny Clegg, Sibongile Khumalo, Helen Sebidi, Mathinus Basson, Robyn Orlin, Darrell Roodt and others like them whose practice and artistic vision have helped shape the South African cultural landscape.

“Every year when we deliberate on the next crop of winners our purpose is to find the next generation of artists whose work holds the promise of that kind of impact. Having had the opportunity to engage with each of the 2018 winners and their current body of work, I am confident that the Artistic Advisory Committee have succeeded in doing just that.”

The award winners in the various artistic genres are selected by the National Arts Festival Committee, chaired by Brett Bailey. All decisions regarding winners are made jointly by the committee.

The winners receive a cash incentive, and are given support to develop and premiere new works that will be featured on the Main Programme of the 2018 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown next year.