The Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners for 2011
The 2011 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners are “a group of diversely unique individuals with distinctive artistic voices, who are bringing a fresh edge to their respective disciplines,” said National Arts Festival Committee Chairman Jay Pather at the announcement of the winners of the prestigious award in Johannesburg last night, hosted by Standard Bank. The winners of the 2011 Standard Bank Young Artist Awards, are: Nandipha Mntambo for Visual Art, Ben Schoeman for Music, Neil Coppen for Theatre, Bokani Dyer for Jazz, Mamela Nyamza for Dance. These awards, acknowledged as one of the most prestigious of their kind, honour young South African artists on the brink of national acclaim by providing them with financial support and a platform for experimentation at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. “Based on artistic excellence, accomplishment to date, and the promise of future achievement, the winners of the 2011 Standard Bank Young Artist Awards are five remarkable individuals who are on top of their game. Their creativity, talent and fortitude is making a significant contribution to the cultural vibrancy of our country,” said National Arts Festival Director, Ismail Mahomed.
The winners are also given various opportunities to represent South Africa on international stages as a result of their association with the award. Mandie van der Spuy, Standard Bank Head of Arts and Jazz Sponsorship said, “As a bank we are committed to nurturing arts talent in South Africa, and we believe that the awards play a vital role in advancing the artists’ careers as well as our country’s cultural heritage. We are proud of the results that this award has delivered over the past 27 years as it forms a central part of Standard Bank’s committed role in developing upcoming South African talent.” As part of their prize, each of the winners will be featured at the 2011 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown (30 June – 10 July 2011) on the Main programme, where they will be given the opportunity to develop and première novel pieces of work. “I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Standard Bank for their loyal and continued support of the arts, and in particular their great investment towards this award,” said this year’s winner for Music, pianist Ben Schoeman.