IMPACT AWARDS

The closing date is imminent for the ImpACT Awards where young professional artists stand a chance to increase their profile by securing one of four coveted Awards.

Outstanding artists whose work has made an impact and who are within the first three years of their professional careers are eligible for entry.

Now an integral part of the ACT Awards, the ImpACT Awards, inaugurated in 2010, are awarded to honour young professionals on the threshold of their promising careers, while the Lifetime Achievement awards for Theatre, Music, Visual Art and Literature are awarded to honour outstanding individuals for their significant contribution during their lifetime.

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Awards ceremony is held annually in recognition and celebration of excellence in South African arts, culture and creativity. Now celebrating 15 years, this prestigious awards event has recognised more than 400 individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to cultural life in South Africa.

The 2012 ACT Awards is presented in association with the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO), Media24 Books, the Vodacom Foundation and is supported by the Distell Foundation and longstanding media partner, Classicfeel Magazine.

Classicfeel Magazine was previously a recipient of two ACT Awards. In 2005, it received both the Arts & Culture Trust Award for Media and the Arts & Culture Trust Journalist Award. The following year, it joined ACT as a media partner; it has proven to be a long and equitable partnership.

Classicfeel is dedicated to promoting arts and culture in South Africa. An award-winning monthly arts and culture magazine, it brings to its readers the best in classical music, jazz, dance, visual arts, film and theatre, as well as food, wine and travel. It speaks to a niche, high-end market with discerning tastes across gender, race and age. Besides the ACT Awards, Classicfeel has garnered many other prestigious awards, amongst them several SAPPI PICA Awards for excellence in publishing and twice, the coveted BASA (Business and Arts in South Africa) Award.

Lore Watterson, editor-in-chief and publisher of this niche magazine, commenting of the role Classicfeel plays in the Awards says, “Classicfeel Magazine is proud to be the media partner of the ACT Awards and celebrating these important Lifetime Achievements of our most prominent artists. Classicfeel has established itself as the prime showcase of South African arts and culture and has played an important role in giving artists and arts-related projects a platform to introduce their works to a wider audience. We are well aware of the tremendous efforts of the individuals and organisations involved with growing a healthy arts and culture scene in the country. The association with the ACT Awards gives us the opportunity to salute their hard work and highlight the vibrant and diverse range of arts and culture related activities in the country to our readers.” She enthusiastically continues, “…and now with the ImpACT Awards we are able to further consolidate this support and encouragement by profiling the young winners with their different categories in Classicfeel. This provides a valuable showcase for their winning talents and is a special milestone in their emerging career.”

The ImpACT Awards are presented in four broad arts categories with selected disciplines being eligible for consideration in each. Nominations in the following categories are open:

- ImpACT Award for Visual Art - Artists working in the media of Fine Art, Sculpting, Public Installations and Photography are eligible for nomination.
- ImpACT Award for Theatre - Artists practising the disciplines of Dance, Acting, writing for Theatre, Musical Theatre and Physical Theatre are eligible for nomination.
- ImpACT Award for Music and Singing - Classical, Contemporary and Jazz musicians and singers are eligible for nomination.
- ImpACT Award for Design - Artists working in the areas of Craft, Fashion Design, Graphic Design and Arts-based Web Design are eligible for nomination.

Winners of the ImpACT Awards are selected by an independent panel of judges. The closing date for nominations for the ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals has been extended to September 07, 2012.

To submit a nomination, follow the link: http://tinyurl.com/dx49gh6

Winners of the Lifetime Achievement Awards and the ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals will be announced at a luncheon in Johannesburg in November 2012.

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is South Africa's premier, independent arts and culture funding and development agency. For more information visit www.act.org.za