SA Taxi Foundation 2017 Art Award opens; NAC 2016 Call for Applications

THE SA Taxi Foundation Art Award is gearing up for the third year of its watershed challenge to practitioners of the visual arts. Entries for this intriguing Award is now open and creatives, artists, and designers are invited to begin work on their submissions. The closing date for Award entries is 13 February 2017.

The main Award is worth an impressive R 700 000-00 and includes a cash amount of R50 000, while the top 5 finalists will each receive an Award to the value of R 660 000-00 including a R 10 000 cash prize. The prizes include production of the artists’ designs as decals, each to be carried by 10 taxis on national routes for a period of 6 months - as well as an extensive publicity campaign aimed at creating national awareness of their work to kick-start their professional careers. The SA Taxi Foundation Art Award therefore adds significant momentum for emerging artists trying to build a sustainable career. Won by Tshepo Mosopa in 2015 and Audrey Anderson in 2016, the Award has seen the work of altogether 12 finalists’ work grace 120 taxis that transport hundreds of thousands of South Africans to and from work daily. As a result, the work has been viewed by millions of South Africans, whether as taxi commuters or other road users, causing a buzz wherever it is spotted.

Entering the Art Award is a two-step process. Firstly, artists are required to create an original artwork in any medium based on the brief given in the entry form. Secondly they are required to design a decal for a taxi interpreting the ideas and concepts of their original artwork. These taxi decals should be an extension of the artwork and use either visual elements or interpret the concept of the original work to translate it into a successful taxi decal. Creatives should also consider all of the safety regulations, visual restraints, and cultural sensitivities that can come into play once an artwork moves around a city as a three dimensional object. While the judges are looking for excellence in the artwork as well as the design work, they will emphasise the way an artist makes the transition from one format to the other.

Entry forms, entry requirements, and decal templates can all be downloaded on the SA Taxi Foundation Art Award website, www.sataxiartaward.co.za. Creatives must email their entries online, to info@sataxiartaward.co.za. For more information, contact the art award project managers, Lizamore & Associates Gallery at 011 880 8802 or tammy@lizamore.co.za. 

NAC Call For Applications For Funding 2016: Arts Projects And International Bursaries

The National Arts Council hereby invites individuals and registered arts organisations in the disciplines of theatre, dance, music, visual arts, craft, literature, multi-discipline and arts education to submit their applications for project funding. 

Applications are invited for projects of national significance that are involved in the creation of new works, arts development, arts promotion, job creation, capacity building in arts entrepreneurship and projects that facilitate access to the arts. Furthermore, arts applications that promote environmental sustainability, nation building and social cohesion and have a strong community base conceived in collaboration with others working in similar fields will be preferable.

Post-graduate students wishing to pursue arts studies abroad in the fields of Craft, Dance, Literature, Multi-discipline, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts are also invited to apply. Students willing to access NAC funding should be prepared to return to and work in South Africa to support the development of the arts in the country.

Conditions for acceptance of applications:

• All relevant sections of the application form must be filled in completely;
• All requested documentation must be submitted with the application form;
• Applications must be submitted on or before 09 December 2016.

This invitation is also open to arts organisations and individuals that support the involvement of women, youth and people living with disabilities.

Please note that late and incomplete applications will not be considered at all and no exceptions will be made. Application forms and funding guidelines are available from the National Arts Council office or can be downloaded here.