3 November 2011
The 2012 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners were announced in Johannesburg last night, hosted by Standard Bank. All the winners said that they are honoured to follow in the footsteps of the past winners of this prestigious award.
“The Standard Bank Young Artist Award continues to remain South Africa's most heralded accolade,” said National Arts Festival Director, Ismail Mahomed. “Bestowed to recognize and award excellence in the arts, the Award over the past 28 years has given added impetus to the careers and artistic voices of artists who have made strong impressionable footprints in both the South African and the international arena,” he added.
The winners of the 2012 Standard Bank Young Artist Awards are:
Kelebogile (Pearl) Boikanyo for Music
Mikhael Subotzky for Visual Art
Princess Zinzi Mhlongo for Theatre
Bailey Snyman for Dance
Afrika Mkhize for Jazz
This premier event on the arts calendar in South Africa was
established in 1974 with Standard Bank becoming its title sponsor in 1984. As of
2001 the bank relinquished its title sponsorship and is now one of four main sponsors.
The Festival objectives are to deliver excellence; encourage innovation and development
in the arts by providing a platform for both established and emerging South African
artists; create opportunities for collaboration with international artists; and
build new audiences. The Festival showcases new talent every year, in particular
through the Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners. Standard Bank believes the
awards play a vital role in nurturing and promoting South African talent. The winners
feature on the main programme of the National Arts Festival and receive financial
support for their Festival participation, be it the mounting of an exhibition or
the staging of a production, as well as a cash prize.
Statistics show that the Festival
brings in an excess of R35.5 million to Grahamstown each year giving a welcome boost
to the local economy. More than 170 000 attendees visited the various events on
offer at the 2009 Festival.