Young artist winners named

[Standard Bank Team]

This week we announced winners of the Standard Bank Young Artist Awards, which are presented by South Africa's National Arts Festival Committee to emerging local artists. The six winning artists were selected for having demonstrated exceptional ability in their chosen fields but have not yet achieved national exposure and acclaim.

The recipients of the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award are Christiaan Olwagen (Theatre), Luyanda Sidiya (Dance), Musa Ngqunqwana (Music), Athi- Patra Ruga (Performance Art), Kemang Wa Lehulere (Visual Art) and Nduduzo Makhathini (Jazz).

Every year, festival committee members, fellow artists and interested members of the public nominate artists for this award.

The awards have over its 30 years encourages recipients in the pursuit of their careers. Part of the prize for each winner is that they are guaranteed a place on the main programme of the next National Arts Festival, which is held every year in Grahamstown, South Africa. They also receive cash prize and substantial financial backing for their festival participation.

A maximum of six awards are made annually in any one of the disciplines of drama, music, jazz, visual art, performance art, dance and film. Since the inception of the awards in 1981 a total of 105 awards have been presented plus five special awards to artists in recognition of their contribution to the National Arts Festival and the arts of South Africa.

For more about Standard Bank Group's involvement in the arts see http://www.standardbankarts.com.