The National Arts Festival, Grahamstown and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) are pleased to call for entries to the South African Arts Journalism Awards, which will be presented for the first time in 2013.
Festival CEO Tony Lankester says “The awards will recognise journalistic practice across all media platforms – print, online and broadcast”. He added that the arts sector “needs robust, healthy, insightful and articulate commentary and criticism from the media to keep it moving forward.”
The awards will identify excellence, expertise and creativity. In doing so, they will promote the practice of arts and cultural journalism, strengthen its national profile and celebrate its importance, range, diversity, fluidity and vitality.
Gold and Silver awards will be made in the following categories:
– Reviewing
Reviews of theatre, music, visual/plastic arts, dance, literature, film, comedy or any other arts and culture phenomenon.
– Features
These may include interviews and profiles, behind-the-scenes stories, arts-related investigative journalism or other forms of arts and culture reportage in any medium.
– Opinion pieces
Comment, analysis and provocation – in any medium – relating to specific artistic disciplines, the arts sector more broadly or arts-related policy and business stories.
Professor Chris Thurman has been invited by the organisers to convene an independent panel of judges who, apart from the above categories, may also choose to nominate recipients for the following awards:
– Best New Voice
– Special Contribution to Arts Journalism
– Best New Media Exponent
– Arts Photography
– Special Merit Award
“Business and Arts South Africa continues to support a better understanding of the arts, and advocates an arts culture in our society. Rigorous and innovative coverage of the arts is crucial in the argument highlighting the value of the arts to all South Africans. It is for this reason that we are excited to be partnering with the National Arts Festival on these Awards.” says BASA CEO Michelle Constant.
Winners will be announced during the course of this year’s National Arts Festival and a range of cash prizes will be awarded. Additionally, one journalist will be awarded the opportunity to travel to the vibrant Amsterdam Fringe in September, from where they will report on South African productions being presented at that Festival as part of the World Fringe Alliance showcase.
“There are times we need to be challenged, times we need to be applauded, and times we need someone to hold a mirror up to us just as our artists hold a mirror to society. These awards will seek out those journalists who practice their craft with integrity and who stimulate debate and passion in their readers, viewers and listeners. They are a celebration of excellence and of passion, and we are delighted to partner with BASA in bringing them to life.” elaborates Lankester.
Competition rules and other important information can be found on the Festival’s website at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.
URL: http://www.nationalartsfestival.co.za/arts-journalism-awards/
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Author: Fiona Gordon from The Famous Idea Trading Co.. Originally distributed by MyPR.co.za.
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