2008 ARTS & CULTURE TRUST AWARDS

Celebratory 10th anniversary Arts & Culture Trust Awards.

In recognising that the arts play a crucial role in improving the quality of life of every South African, the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and organisations who have contributed to the development of arts and culture in South Africa.

The celebratory 10th anniversary ACT Awards ceremony saw awards presented by Nedbank and supported by CLASSICfeel Magazine and Fine Music Radio 101.3. Categories were sponsored by the Vodacom Foundation, Distell, Sun International and Exclusive Books.

Past ACT award winners Georgina Thomson, Michelle Constant, Themba Ka Mathe and Lusanda Zokufa, together with well-known stage and television personality Tselane Tambo, presented the various category awards.

Arts Management: Bernard Jay. With a long and comprehensive career in entertainment administration, Bernard Jay learned his craft in management positions at such British government-subsidised theatres as York Theatre Royal, Malvern Festival Theatre and London’s Hampstead Theatre. In 1997, he joined promoter Attie van Wyk’s Big Concerts as Deputy Managing Director and in 2000 he was appointed CEO of the Johannesburg Civic Theatre where his contract has been extended to 2012. Other finalists in this category were Daphne Kuhn, owner and producer of Theatre on the Square; Nonkululeko Thabede, manager of the Dance Forum’s annual Dance Umbrella Festival and Roz van der Vyver, operations manager of the Baxter Theatre.

Arts Media: Artslink.co.za. Launched in January 1997 Artslink.co.za is South Africa’s largest arts and culture website, specialising in connecting audiences to artists via technology. Over a period of 11 years more than 20,000 and press releases have been disseminated and archived by Artslink, creating a unique South African database of arts and culture news. Artslink is also an Internet Service Provider and weekly wraps of film and theatre news and headlines keep potential audiences in touch. Other finalists in this category were the new arts magazine Applause, and SABC2’s arts and culture television magazine programme produced by Engage Entertainment, Artcha.

Arts Education: Thandi Arts Project. Through the Thandi Arts Project, one woman has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the development of Arts and Culture in South Africa. From humble beginnings in the dusty streets of Gugulethu, Nomthandazo Swartbooi has gone on to travel the globe performing, teaching and conducting workshops in traditional music and dance in schools and at universities. The Cape Town based Amy Biehl Foundation, the Johannesburg based Cultural Development Trust and the Bloemfontein based Mangaung Drama & Dance Group were the other finalists in this category.

Cultural Development: Moving into Dance Mophatong. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, MIDM has used dance to make a direct difference to hundreds of lives. Since its inception in 1978 it has developed into a nationally-acclaimed professional contemporary African dance company, as well as a training organisation which has produced a multitude of award-winning and productive dancers, choreographers, arts administrators and teachers throughout South Africa. The other finalists in this category were Khumbulani Craft and the 20–year old Sibikwa Community Project.

Creative Industries is Gumbo. Produced by From the Hip: Khulumakahle (FTH:K) Gumbo is South Africa’s first full-length deaf and hearing production. The story is told using FTH:K’s unique blend of physical performance, clowning, story-telling and work with integrating Deaf and hearing performers. The Gumbo Tour and the accompanying workshop programme they present to deaf and hearing people in South Africa and abroad, promotes cultural diversity in the creative arts and also encourages tolerance and understanding on many levels. The other finalists in this category were Mother City Queer Projects and Reggie Legoale Creative.

Lifetime Achievement awards were presented to three industry veterans, David Koloane, Miriam Makeba and Lynette Marais. Veteran actor Robert Whitehead and Mr David Shoko Chairman of the Vodacom Foundation presented the Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2008, sponsored by The Vodacom Foundation. These awards are awarded at the discretion of the ACT Board of Trustees.

The judging panel for the ACT Awards 2008 was convened by Brenda Devar, a trustee on the ACT Board and included George Mxadana, musical director and conductor of Imilonji KaNtu Choral Society; journalist and writer Mandla Motau; artistic and executive director of the Tribhangi Dance Theatre Jayesperi Moopen and internationally acclaimed playwright, choreographer and director, Welcome Msomi.

“These awards provide the opportunity for colleagues and associates to acknowledge the professional excellence and dedication of their fellow colleagues by nominating them for acknowledgment. Great vision and leadership distinguished our list of finalists and ultimately the winners”, said Brenda Devar after the ceremony.

"Congratulations to all the Winners and finalists in each of the categories. On behalf of our Patron, Athol Fugard and the ACT Board of Trustees I thank the principal sponsor of the Awards, Nedbank, the media partners, CLASSICfeel Magazine and Fine Music Radio 101.3, and all the sponsors and supporters of the various categories“, said outgoing ACT chairman Kutlwano Masote.

Through the Awards, principal sponsor Nedbank continues to highlight its commitment to arts and culture development, promotion and preservation in South Africa. "Nedbank is immensely proud of the role that it plays in the arts through its support for the Arts and Culture Trust. This event reminds us, yet again, of just how many reasons we have to be proudly South African " said Tom Boardman, Chief Executive: Nedbank Group.

The Department of Arts & Culture, Nedbank Sun International and The Vodacom Foundation are the Founding Trustees of ACT. The Royal Netherlands Embassy is a Founding Sponsor and Athol Fugard is Patron of the Trust. For more information visit www.act.org.za