Arts writers, broadcasters and photographers from traditional and online media are invited to submit their work to the 2016 National Arts Festival/BASA Arts Journalism of the Year Awards.
Open to experienced arts journalists, newcomers to the field, or arts-focused publications (print and online), the awards call for journalism which was published, posted or broadcasted during the period 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2016. The closing date for entry is Friday 30 September 2016.
Previous winners of the overall annual award include Charl Blignaut and Lwandile Fikeni, while ten gold and 23 silver awards were made last year.
The awards recognises journalism that sparks and shapes conversations around the arts. Tony Lankester, CEO of the National Arts Festival, says that “Insightful, critical commentary and intelligent review are essential to the sustainability of the arts and assists us in keeping artists in the spotlight and relevant to both their craft and audiences.”
Apart from the prestige and industry regard that the awards engender, the overall winner of the Arts Journalism Awards 2016 and the gold award winners will receive a cash prize.
A judging panel of seasoned media and arts role-players will be convened by CapeTalk radio presenter (and theatre aficionado), John Maytham, who says, “I am very excited about getting exposure to the best arts writing in the country. This award is a wonderful opportunity for people who toil long and hard with very little reward to have their work recognised and lauded. The judges look forward to entries that get under the skin; that go beyond cliché; that demonstrate a deep respect for, and understanding of, the exceptional work done by South African artists across the genres.”
Journalists may submit more than one piece of work (to a maximum of four entries) across multiple categories but each entry must be processed separately. Organisations may enter up to five relevant pieces.
For more information and to complete the entry form, visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.
