Arts & Culture Trust Awards announced
The Arts & Culture Trust Awards, which recognise significant and sustainable contributions towards the advancement of arts and culture in South Africa, were announced last week. Launched under the sponsorship of Nedbank in 1998, the awards were cancelled in 2000 due to restructuring, and were co-presented this year by the Mail & Guardian.
Among the winners, the Fordsburg Artists Studios, also known as the Bag Factory, in Newtown took the prize for Best Practice Project, while cultural commentator Mike van Graan - also a finalist for Arts Administrator of the Year - was named Arts and Culture Journalist of the Year. The full list of winners, finalists and judges' comments follows:
ARTS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD, sponsored by South African Breweries
WINNER: Georgina Thomson
"Through managing the FNB Vita Dance Umbrella, she has assisted with the international exposure and cultural exchange of South African dance performance. Thomson's extensive knowledge and vision is demonstrated in an innovative management style that has brought new directions to the
artistic growth of dance in South Africa."
FINALISTS: Mike van Graan, Gitanjali Pather, Laurie Wapenaar
ARTS AND CULTURE JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD, sponsored by Sun International
WINNER: Mike van Graan
"Having played a significant role in arts administration and contributing to government policy formulation, Van Graan's 'The Cultural Weapon' is an informed commentary on arts and culture. Starting as a monthly journal on the arts, 'The Cultural Weapon' now appears as a weekly column on Artslink.co.za."
FINALISTS: Roger Lucey, Robert Greig, Michelle Constant
MEDIA IN SUPPORT OF THE ARTS OF THE YEAR AWARD, sponsored by Vodacom Foundation
WINNER: eNews
"The pioneering support and encouragement of the arts in regular news bulletins is based on the recognition that the arts are a daily feature of South African society. Well-known artist, musician and playwright, Roger Lucey, presents the arts slot in the news bulletin."
FINALISTS: Artslink.co.za, D'Arts Magazine, SAfm
ARTS AND CULTURE PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR AWARD, sponsored by Vodacom Foundation
WINNER: Juan Els
"Employing affordable, creative and innovative publicity campaigns that are accessible and specific, Juan's talents in assessing the viability of potential audiences is based on a thorough knowledge of the performing arts industry. His demonstrated dedication to the promotion of smaller arts projects has been instrumental in raising and maintaining the awareness of
developmental arts groups."
FINALISTS: David Wilson, Illa Thompson, Phillip Todres
CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD, sponsored by Sasol Limited
WINNER: The Dance Factory
"The vision of fostering dance culture and developing dance audiences through
classes, performances and workshops to culturally disadvantaged township and
city suburb residents led to the creation of a communal dance centre by
dance practitioners in 1991. An established Community Dance Training
programme and a fully equipped theatre and studio provide rehearsal and
performance space to local children, choreographers and companies."
FINALISTS: VACA (Visual Arts & Crafts Academy), SA Schools' Festival (Grahamstown Foundation), Mineworkers' Development Agency
INTERNATIONAL ARTS SPONSOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
WINNER: The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)
"As the Swedish government agency for bilateral international development
co-operation, SIDA seeks to create partnerships and assist with the
development of a democratic South African society. Their contribution to
cultural institutions encourages the development of arts and culture that
recognises South Africa's historical legacies, recording and nurturing arts
and culture. SIDA's support includes collaboration between the Gothenburg
College of Music and South African music institutions, co-operation between
Stockholm City Theatre and a stage school connected to The Market Theatre in
Johannesburg and both the District Six Museum and Robben Island Museum
receive funding for the training of museum staff."
ACT BEST PRACTICE PROJECT AWARD, sponsored by the Arts & Culture Trust
WINNER: Fordsburg Artists Studios
"The Bag Factory's 18 studios and gallery, in the Newtown precinct, aim
to sustain local professional and educational art communities by providing
tangible skills and services. Internationally renowned, the project recently
celebrated ten years of existence. The Bag Factory also provides workshops,
seminars and events for both Bag Factory stakeholders and members of the
public."
FINALISTS: Arts Outreach Programme (The Children's Arts Festival), KOTAZ (Imbizo Arts of South Africa), Steel Band Project
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, sponsored by South African Breweries
WINNER: Joyce Levinsohn
"Through the Johannesburg Youth Theatre Trust, Joyce Levinsohn has fostered a
culture of art appreciation, language and literature amongst youth. Her
dedication and positive contribution to the development of excellence in
children's theatre has helped to build theatre audiences of the future, and
she has become synonymous with the staging children's productions in South
Africa."
FINALISTS: Professor Elizabeth Sneddon, Beata Lipman, Percy Tucker
