OPEN CALL: MEMBERS' AWARD SHOW

The KZNSA Gallery has officially opened submissions for the 2026 Members’ Award Show. This year’s theme, Traces, was selected by Friends of the KZNSA Gallery.

Traces reflects on what remains, fades, or persists over time. It invites artists to explore memory, residue, and mark‑making, engaging with presence and absence. Works may draw on archival material, drawing, printmaking, photography, video, sculpture, performance, or painting, addressing ideas of erosion, accumulation, and material memory.

The Members’ Award Show is the KZNSA’s annual competition where members submit works responding to a chosen theme. Entries are reviewed by the Exhibition Sub‑Committee, with only those that meaningfully engage with the theme exhibited.

From these, a panel of external judges selects the top three works. Winning artists receive cash prizes, and the overall winner is awarded the opportunity to present a solo exhibition at the KZNSA Gallery the following year.

 

Submission dates (at the KZNSA Gallery):

Friday, April 10: 10h00 – 16h00

Saturday, April 11: 10h00 – 15h00

No late submissions will be accepted.

 

The Members’ Award Show will open with the prize‑giving on April 17, 2026.

 

Important: Only paid‑up members of the KZNSA may participate. Each member may submit a single work, with no restrictions on medium. Works can be framed or unframed, but must not exceed 150 x 150 cm due to space constraints. Entries that do not conform to these conditions will be disqualified.

 

The KZNSA Annual Members’ Award Show prizes are made possible through the generous support of the Key Foundation and the Joan Emmanuel Trust.

 

MANDELA CAPTURE SITE FOR GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS CHALLENGE

(Lynne McRae & Sue Eslick with rolls of scarves for 27km record from Durban)

67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day set their sights on breaking a new world record – a 27km Scarf

There is nothing like a warm scarf to keep away the winter chill and this year 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day are ready to tackle the icy weather while breaking yet another world record by crocheting a 27km scarf.

27KmScarf will take place on July 29, 2018, at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal. It will be a day filled with live entertainment and a brightly-coloured supernaturally-long scarf. Anyone is welcome to come through on July 28 from 10h00 to help sew scarves together and on the July 29, the site will be open the whole day with entertainment kicking off at 10h00.

Over the last couple of months, KnitWits around the country have been feverishly crocheting scarves to the exacting standards of the Guinness World Book criteria. Each 20cm x 200cm scarf has been crocheted using a hook size no bigger than 6.5mm. Massive rolls of scarves have been bundled up and ready to be transported to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site where on-site volunteers will loosely stitch the rolls of scarves together to form the one long scarf.

Since the earliest days of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, Stuttaford Van Lines have supported the initiative. Once again they have their engines revving in anticipation of the enormous pile of scarves that not only have to be delivered to KwaZulu-Natal, but also collected and returned to all the provinces to be distributed.

“In the year that the Nelson Mandela Foundation celebrates a great milestone in history, 67 Blankets for Mandela Day has brought the understanding of making history with work that will benefit those in need. The many people who have been involved in this project will bring much-needed smiles and warmth to so many in these very cold winter days” says Yase Godlo, manager of Mandela Day at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Singing sensation Timothy Moloi will lend his voice to the event, joined by local musicians including singer-songwriter, author and playwright Audrey Mbuyazi, flautist Kaolin Thomson Woods leading the Khazimula Orphanage marimba band, the St Johns DSG School orchestra and reggae band Undivided Roots. Once again, MCC have generously offered their services and will capture this incredible event from the skies using drones and a helicopter.

Without the numerous volunteers and support from companies like Ballid Security Howick, Prosound and KZN Weddings and Functions this event would not be possible.

“We will show the  world what we are doing, stitch by stitch, to keep the legacy of our beloved Nelson Mandela alive, by creating blankets and scarves for our fellow brothers, sisters, moms, dads and children who need extra warmth during our cold winter months,” says Carolyn Steyn, founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day.

“This is going to be a celebration of note. We have achieved Guinness World Records in Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg and now it is time for KZN to feel and experience the excitement and be part of our history as we mark and pay tribute to Madiba in his centenary year,” she adds.

Following the 27KmScarf event, the scarves will be transported to all corners of South Africa and distributed to those in need. Although 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day cannot guarantee the original scarves will be sent back to the provinces they came from, they will ensure that the same amount of scarves are sent back to be distributed.

Mandela Capture site on the R103 (Howick / Tweedie off-ramp off the N3). Entrance is free and please bring your own picnic, chairs and picnic blankets. There will be food at the Truth Café.

Visit the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day website http://www.67blankets.co.za and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/67blankets to follow the build up to this momentous event.

http://www.67blankets.co.za

https://www.facebook.com/67blankets

https://twitter.com/67blankets

ARTSMART 19TH BIRTHDAY

Today artSMart celebrates 19 years since it was created on the 24th May, 1999. 

This is the revamped logo designed by Barry Meehan!

All thanks to everyone who has supported the website – from the advertisers, reviewers and contributors to the readers themselves. Long may we continue!

artSMart doesn't just promote arts events in Durban but throughout the whole of KZN. It also acknowledges work that KZN artists are doing out of the province or out of the country.

The Events List sponsored by MusicMonde is updated every week, giving valuable dates and times in all disciplines to help as a clash diary, apart from promoting the actual event.

So send any arts, music, literature, dance, drama or music information to Caroline Smart at csmart@iafrica.com or via enquiries@artsmart.co.za

ARTSMART’S 17TH BIRTHDAY

Launched on May 24, 1999, artSMart today celebrates its 17^th birthday.

“artSMart is a voluntary service on my part to the arts in KZN,” explains artSMart owner and editor Caroline Smart. “It would not be able to exist without the hugely valuable support of its advertisers, reviewers and contributors. My thanks to one and all.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR

(Caroline Smart)

Here’s wishing all artSMart readers and supporters all the very best for 2015! May the new year bring exciting and productive challenges for the arts and the chance of new opportunities to further creative talents.

artSMart is a voluntary project and my eternal thanks to my PA, Pauline Dalais; my sister Cherry MacIldowie for editing the avalanche of emails, and my regular reviewers Keith Millar and Michael Green as well as to adhoc reviewers and contributors

My huge gratitude to the artSMart advertisers. Please support them and their projects. Without their contribution, artSMart could not exist.

Caroline Smart, artSMart Owner/Editor

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and fun over the festive season. If you believe in the spiritual values of Christmas, may you have a blessedday.
All the best from
The artSMart team

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARTSMART!

Today is artSMart’s 15^th birthday!

On April 24, 1999, Caroline Smart somewhat nervously entered the world of the internet to launch an arts website dedicated to KZN. The title is styled artSMart, using her name as the base and putting “art” either side of SM.

It is now the largest multi-cultural arts website/blog in the province and, apart from its immediate use to promote events, it is regularly used for research purposes.

As of 11h30 this morning (May 24, 2014), the all time history of page views number 722,090!

Music remains the top category, followed by Drama and Visual Arts.

“When I created artSMart, I had no idea it would grow to this level. Without the support of our loyal advertisers, I wouldn’t be able to keep going. I also thank all my reviewers, supporters and readers. Constantly fighting deadlines, I often bemoan that I’ve created a “monster”. But what a delicious monster!”