This year the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) reaches yet
another milestone as its annual ACT Awards programme grows from strength to
strength.
Celebrating 21 years of existence and 18 years of the ACT
Awards in 2015, South Africa’s premier independent arts funding and development
agency is excited to announce an additional category in the prestigious
Lifetime Achievements Awards. Not only is ACT delighted to have the Dance
Lifetime Achievement Award debut at this year’s ceremony but they are also
excited to have Japan Tobacco International (JTI) come on board to support this
specific accolade.
ACT has announced the allocation of the Dance Lifetime
Achievement Award which will be presented for the first time in the history of
the awards, since their establishment in 1998. This is a monumental step from
what began with one accolade being handed out for the first nine years of the
awards, and gradually became five categories in a space of six years
thereafter.
This year, Dance will be added to the existing Lifetime
Achievement Awards categories which include: Visual Arts, Theatre, Arts
Advocacy, Music and Literature.
Sharing his views on the new partnership and award, ACT CEO
Pieter Jacobs says: “The aim of the ACT Awards has always been to celebrate and
acknowledge excellence and without this prestigious ceremony many luminaries
who have been celebrated globally, would not be acknowledged for their valuable
contributions locally. We saw it fit that this category be added going forth
because our country has produced remarkable talent and individuals who have
pioneered this trade both locally and abroad. We are also equally honoured to
be in partnership with a brand such as JTI in honouring these mavens.”
The ACT awards also honour young professionals who have made
great strides in the first five years of their careers and one of the focuses,
and by far the biggest element of the event, is the Lifetime Achievement Awards
segment. This prestigious part of the occasion is dedicated to celebrating
individuals who have made a profound influence and contributed significantly to
the enrichment of the arts and culture environment in South Africa during their
lives.
Noting the new Lifetime Achievement Award for Dance, JTI’s
Corporate Affairs and Legal Director Lizette Rau says: “JTI is thrilled to have
partnered with ACT in introducing this award. Dance, in South Africa and
abroad, is perhaps the most under-recognised and un-awarded of the arts
disciplines. South Africa’s dancers and choreographers make a profound
contribution to the local and international dance landscape and we thank ACT
for affording JTI the opportunity to give them the recognition they so richly
deserve.”
The Awards are set to take place on November 2, 2015, at Sun
International’s The Maslow in Sandton, Johannesburg. For more information visit
www.act.org.za
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