2021 National Arts Fest concludes with Standard Bank Ovation Awards

The Standard Bank Ovation Awards recognise the best of the Fringe Festival – works that stand out for a variety of reasons that make a lasting impression on the judges, from being an audience pleaser to showcasing talent and technical skill. Standard Bank Ovation Awards are awarded throughout the festival and works that have been awarded bear the Ovations stamp on their digital windows as a signal to audiences that they are watching an award winner.

At the close of the festival, the awards emerge from this pool and receive Gold, Silver or Bronze Standard Bank Ovation Award recognition. This year’s Gold, Silver and Bronze winners are:

Gold Award

The Shack by Totem Productions
Gone but not Forgotten by Gowar Creative Hub

Silver Award

Initiation by Is’Thatha Dance Project
Verloren by Spark in the Dark
The Core by Afda Johannesburg
Wet & Dry by Cia Paraladosanjos
Mobile Inertia by Siphumeze Khundayi
Ruth by Love and Race Productions
Torinaoshi by Tsukuba Indy (LLC)
(extra) ordinary, (un) usual by F Creations
Old Soul Waiting by Mabu Art Foundation
Buya by Mathetha Dances

Bronze Award

DE|COMPOSITION by Response-Ability/Revolution Movement
Dear Donald, Dear Hillary (Their Secret Correspondence) by Sally Vahle
The Joy of Symphonic Music - Concert 2 by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Lykele Temmingh
Umhlaba Ophezulu/Higher Ground by Iva Collective
Liminal - Documentary by Joy Film Productions
Dipalo_The Audio Version by Assitej SA
Acapella Street Corners by Chamber Ensemble

Gold Standard Bank Ovation winners are awarded a cash prize of R10,000, Silver Standard Bank Ovation Award winners are given R5,000 and Bronze Standard Bank Ovation Award winners take home R2,500.

The 2021 panel was convened by Princess Mhlongo, who said:

As a former Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year and Ovation Winner, it has truly been a great honour to be part of the Standard Bank Ovations team as coordinator of the winners' selection process. It has been a trying time in the world but seeing the fight and determination in the work presented by artists speaks volumes for the future of the arts in our country. A huge congratulations to the NAF team for being consistently present and continuing to be the voice of the artists. It is never an easy task choosing the best out of a pool of outstanding works representing change and progress, however, this year displayed courage that I believe will bring forth hope for those who may still need the strength to go on.

Speaking at the awards, National Arts Festival Fringe manager Zikhona Monaheng announced that the Fringe Live platform would remain open until the end of August. The Fringe would also be accepting new works for August and artists need to apply to participate via nationalartsfestival.co.za/participate-in-vfringe-2020. There is no registration fee for new works and the festival would continue to offer a 90% split on ticket revenue in favour of the artists. New Fringe works would not however be considered for Standard Bank Ovation Awards

Long-time festival partners, Standard Bank, recognised that it was a particularly tough year for artists and launched an exciting participatory campaign to support artists at the Festival. The ‘bank of dreams’ calls for members of the public to submit messages of support for artists to an online portal. Each message is backed by real cash from Standard Bank with the goal of harvesting 3,700 messages to match the 37 years Standard Bank has partnered with the National Arts Festival. The accumulated cash value of the 3,700 messages would be R500,000 – which would then be distributed to the artists at the National Arts Festival Fringe this year. Arts lovers can visit arts.standardbank.co.za to dedicate their message and get behind the Fringe artists.

Speaking at the event, Desiree Pooe, head of sponsorships for Standard Bank, reminded audiences of the incredible challenges artists have overcome to perform at this year’s festival, not to mention the short timelines: “Artists and others in the background were made to build the proverbial plane in flight, the challenges, dedication and sacrifices do not go unnoticed.” Pooe said: “Since introducing the Standard Bank Ovation Awards in 2010, they have been instrumental in spotlighting the stand out talent on the Fringe and have contributed to propelling the careers of many artists and productions who have received them.” Pooe congratulated all the winners of the 2021 Standard Bank Ovation Awards.

The event was staged virtually and streamed from Makhanda where some of this year’s Fringe works were also filmed. Guests were entertained by local performers Makhanda Kwantu Choir and singer Nombasa. The event was recorded and can be watched live via Youtube:

The full list of Standard Bank Ovation Award winners for 2021 can be found here nationalartsfestival.co.za/news/standard-bank-ovation-awards-2021-announcement

The National Arts Festival Fringe can be found at nationalartsfestival.co.za/the-fringe