The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is inviting nominations
for the eagerly-awaited 2016 ImpACT Awards, which are held annually in
recognition and celebration of excellence within the arts, culture and creative
sectors in South Africa.
Deadline: May 3, 2016
Nominations for the 2016 ImpACT Awards for Young
Professionals, sponsored by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund
(NLDTF) and the Distell Foundation in partnership with Sun International, are
now open. This year there will be a total of five ImpACT Awards to honour young
professional artists.
Since their inception in 1998, the ACT Awards have
celebrated many individuals and organisations that have made a significant
cultural contribution to the country. The awards have gained national acclaim
and exposure throughout the industry, and are presented to individuals not
older than 30 years old, and companies or organisations operating in South
Africa and in the first five years of their professional careers.
Some of the previous ImpACT Award winners include: Lindiwe
Maxolo, POPArt, Laurie Wiid van Heerden, Benon Lutaaya, Letlhogonolo Nche, The
Muffinz, Blessing Ngobeni, Phillip Dikotla, Bambo Sibiya, Camron Andrews,
Motlaji Ditodi, Ozlo Clothing Store, Nomfundo Xaluva, Thabo Makhetha Designs,
Kyla Davis and Jade Bowers.
The ImpACT Awards are presented in five broad arts
categories with selected disciplines being eligible for consideration in each.
The public nominations are now open in the following categories:
ImpACT Award for Visual Art – Artists working in the mediums
of Fine Art, Sculpting, Public Installations and Photography are eligible for
nomination.
ImpACT Award for Theatre – Artists practicing the
disciplines Acting, Directing and Writing for Theatre, Musical Theatre and
Physical Theatre are eligible for nomination.
ImpACT Award for Music & Singing – Classical,
Contemporary, Hip Hop, Traditional, Jazz and other music composers, producers,
musicians and singers are eligible for nomination.
ImpACT Award for Design – Artists working in the areas of
Craft, Jewellery and Fashion Design, Graphic Design and Arts-based Web Design
are eligible for nomination.
ImpACT Award for Dance – Trained Contemporary, Traditional,
African, Ballet and other dancers and choreographers are eligible for
nomination.
ACT Chief Executive Officer, Pieter Jacobs is passionate
about encouraging young artists and creatives around South Africa to be
recognised and honoured. “For ACT, the aim of this kind of acknowledgement for
having done something superbly well is so much more than a boost of morale. The
highlight these awards cast on its recipients’ careers offers them valuable
exposure that associates them with individuals and groups that excel in their
chosen field. The promotion and endorsement they receive even years after being
awarded supports the growth of their markets and networks,” says Jacobs.
ACT has opened nominations for the ImpACT Awards for young
professionals until May 3 2016.
ImpACT winners will receive a cash prize of R10,000, a
certificate and additional PR opportunities that will be generated through the
ImpACT Awards.
Winners of ImpACT Awards are selected by an independent
panel of judges, finalists will be announced at a media briefing and winners
will be announced at the awards ceremony scheduled to take place in
Johannesburg in the last quarter of 2016.
To submit nominations visit http://www.act.org.za/programmes/awards.html
or http://tinyurl.com/lc29a66
Featuring prominently as part of the ACT Awards are the
prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards. These awards are presented to
deserving individuals who have made a profound impact and who have contributed
significantly to the enrichment of the arts and culture environment in South
Africa. The categories for Lifetime Achievement Awards are; Visual Arts,
Theatre, Arts Advocacy, Music, Dance and Literature.
The ACT Awards are presented in partnership with Sun
International, The National Lotteries Board, Nedbank Arts Affinity, Media24
Books, DALRO, Distell Foundation and Creativefeel Magazine.
For more information about the Arts & Culture Trust
(ACT) visit www.act.org.za