The Young Artists Awards are made available to three major disciplines - drama, music and fine arts. The duty of the award is to reflect the changes in South African society. The award constitutes a large part of the Standard Bank National Arts Festival of the Arts held in Grahamstown, South Africa, every year. A committee of artists, critics, gallery directors and heads of teaching institutions carry out the selection process for the visual arts. Their selection is then presented to the entire Festival Committee. This exhibition is the most widely traveled one-person show in the country and the opportunity for maximum exposure is an important component of the award. If one looks back on the past award winners and considers their subsequent progress, the high standard of this award plays a big part in their success.
Winners since the inception of the Award
1981 Jules van der Vijver
1982 Neil Rogers
1983 Malcolm Payne
1984 Peter Schültz
1985 Marion Arnold
1986 Gavin Young
1987 William Kentridge
1988 Margaret Vorster
1989 Helen Sebidi
1990 Fee Halsted and Bonnie Ntshalintshali
1991 Andries Botha
1992 Tommy Motswai
1993 Pippa Skotnes
1994 Sam Nhlengethwa
1995 Jane Alexander
1996 Trevor Makhoba
1997 Lien Botha and Willie Boshoff
1998 Aubrey Sekhabi
1999 Nlandla Xaba
Nlandla Xaba is the Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner of 1999. He exhibited some of his work at the Grahamstown Festival, and is shown here with one of his works. It depicts a black African tribe during a ceremony using long reeds. He observed such a ritual and was inspired by the colour and movement of the people.