Journalists have until Friday to submit
their entries for the inaugural South African Arts Journalism Awards, to be
presented by The National Arts Festival, Grahamstown and Business and Arts
South Africa (BASA).
Convenor of the judging panel Professor
Chris Thurman commented, “We have received a range of entries from across the
media spectrum, covering a variety of artistic disciplines and different modes
of arts journalism. We would, however, like to make the judges’ task as
difficult as possible, and we encourage all those journalists who have not yet
submitted material to do so before the deadline!”
The awards will recognise journalistic
practice across print, online and broadcast platforms. In identifying
excellence, expertise and creativity; they will promote the practice of arts
and cultural journalism, strengthen its national profile and celebrate its
importance, range, diversity, fluidity and vitality.
Gold and Silver awards will be made in the
following categories:
- Reviewing: Reviews of theatre, music,
visual/plastic arts, dance, literature, film, comedy or any other arts and
culture phenomenon.
- Features: These may include interviews
and profiles, behind-the-scenes stories, arts-related investigative journalism
or other forms of arts and culture reportage in any medium.
- Opinion pieces: Comment, analysis and
provocation – in any medium – relating to specific artistic disciplines, the
arts sector more broadly or arts-related policy and business stories.
The independent panel of judges may also
choose to nominate recipients for the following awards (in addition to the
above categories): Best New Voice; Special Contribution to Arts Journalism;
Best New Media Exponent; Arts Photography, and Special Merit Award.
Winners will be announced during the course
of this year’s National Arts Festival and a range of cash prizes will be
awarded. Additionally, one journalist will be awarded the opportunity to travel
to the vibrant Amsterdam Fringe in September, from where they will report on
South African productions being presented at that Festival as part of the World
Fringe Alliance showcase.
Competition rules and other important
information can be found on the Festival’s website at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za
The deadline for entries is March 8. Those
submitting written work may enter one or more article(s) totalling no more than
3000 words. Those submitting audio or video material may enter either a
compilation of clips or a single programme/instalment, no longer than 25
minutes in duration. The presenter, the producer, sound/visual editor and other
members of the production team should be clearly indicated.
Photographic material should be limited to
a portfolio of 15 images.
In all cases, entries should be accompanied
by a brief letter of motivation in which the entrant specifies which
category(ies) he/she is entering, provides some background to his/her work and
indicates the context of publication or broadcast of the material submitted:
date, time (if applicable), title, publication/station/channel/website.
Material may only be submitted if it was published or broadcast in the 2012
calendar year. Judges reserve the right to request the entrant to provide proof
of publication or broadcast.
Electronic submissions are preferable.
Applicants may submit material as an email attachment sent to: artsjourn@nationalartsfestival.co.za
Alternatively, hard copies may be posted to: National Arts Festival, PO Box
304, Grahamstown, 6140 provided that they are postmarked no later than March 8,
2013.
Finalists will be announced in April in
Johannesburg, with Gold and Silver and other category winners announced in June
in Grahamstown.
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