Internet entries open for Sasol New Signatures Art Competition

Artists will be contacted if their entries are selected for final approval at a regional collection point. They can also submit one or two artworks at one of several venues around the country. Physical entries are to be submitted to the collection points on Monday, 11 and Tuesday, 12 July between 10am and 4pm. The competition is aimed at inspiring creativity and innovation amongst emerging young South African artists and is open to all South African artists who are 18 years and older and have not held a solo exhibition, except for academic purposes.

Solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum

In addition to winning a grand prize of R60 000, this year's winner will be given the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum next year. The runner-up and five merit winners will receive R15 000 and R1000, respectively.

Sasol sponsorship manager Andriesa Singleton said that Sasol has sponsored the event for the past 21 years. "This is an important event on Sasol's arts calendar and underpins our commitment to, and support of, visual arts in this country," she said.

Information sessions were recently held around the country, at which artists had the opportunity to gain insight into the judging process and receive advice on conceptualisation, display and presentation of work.

An excellent platform

The chairman of the judging panel, Peter Binsbergen, said that the competition is an excellent platform for young up-and-coming artists to showcase their work and to encourage a high standard of work in the arts community. "While winning a prize is obviously a great achievement, just taking part in the event is an important learning process for young artists," he said.

Selection will be conducted at the respective regional collection points where the regional committees will select a total of around 100 works for exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum. The final selection process will culminate with an awards ceremony held on the official opening of the exhibition on Wednesday, 31 August, 2011.

The Sasol New Signatures Art Competition's exhibition will be open to public from Wednesday, 31 August to Sunday, 2 October, 2011. Artists can contact Nandi Hilliard from the Association of Arts Pretoria at +27 (0)12 346 3100 or +27 (0)83 288 5117 or az.oc.bewm@atpstra for further information on the competition and where to obtain the entry forms, or go to www.sasolsignatures.co.za.