Sasol pulls out of Wax Art Award
by Michael Smith
Petrochemical giant Sasol, sponsor of the prestigious annual Sasol Wax Art Award, has withdrawn its sponsorship from this entity, ArtThrob learned this month.
A series of industry whisperings were confirmed this month by Executive Director Carola Ross, of Carola Ross and Associates, the event organiser that has managed the project for Sasol. In a response to questions about the rumoured cancellation, Ross said, 'It is always sad when a good partnership comes to an end. The organiser's relationship with Sasol has been a good one and the Award has delivered in terms of its objectives, both to the industry and to the sponsor. Unfortunately, corporate sponsors review their support when the objectives of the organisation change.�
This echoes a 2003 ArtThrob story (http://www.artthrob.co.za/03mar/index.html), which reported on First National Bank withdrawing its funding from the Vita Art Prize.
The announcement of Sasol's withdrawal from what has grown to be one of the most significant art award processes and exhibitions on the cultural calendar, is bad news for an industry already feeling the pinch. Earlier this year Sasol also pulled funding from Aardklop Nasionale Kunstefees, an event held yearly in Potchefstroom in the North-West Province. Last month ArtThrob also reported on the shock cancellation of the Durban incarnation of the Spier Contemporary due to a last minute funding withdrawal by a public sector sponsor.
Despite this bleak outlook, Ross was upbeat about this year's Sasol Award: 'We are excited by the finalists, who were announced in May this year. They are Hentie Van Der Merwe, Tracey Rose, Stephen Hobbs, Avashone Mainganye and Brett Murray� Without giving away too much detail, viewers can look forward to a very different exhibition this year. Public installation, constructed environments and digital reflections on development will be juxtaposed with elements of the rural and spiritual side of South African culture.'
