Comics art talent Liaam Rose the winner of the R350 000 ACT scholarship almost did not make it, thanks to load shedding

Now with a scholarship in the bag he is heading to university next year.

By Edward Tsumele, Editor, CITYLIFE/ARTS

He looked at his artworks that he was about to submit for the Arts &Culture awards to be considered for this fabulous scholarship.  He smiled. He had worked hard and frantically to meet the deadline, and he was sure that he was standing a good chance to be at least short-listed, If not reaching the finals of this competition.

After all he needed the scholarship badly. In 2020 he became the best student in visual art (practicals) at the National School of the Arts. But his chance of going to university to study what he loves most were zero. He did not have money to pay for his fees.

As a result he spent 2020 hustling, doing odd jobs such as working at a garage as a cashier. Fortunately his alma Mater also hired him as a student teacher.

And when Branda Sakerides the school’s Public Relations person saw an advert calling for talented young artists in the area of theatre, visual art and music to apply for this scholarship, she encouraged Liaam Rose to give it a try. He did and that is the reason why on that day in July this year, he was anxious to meet the deadline of the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme. “But just as I pressed send, boom! Load shedding hit. I was shattered, left not knowing whether the application went through or not. I made a follow up to ACT the following day. Fortunately they told me that I should not worry as they had received everything from me. I was relieved,” Rose, one of the winners of the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme told CITYLIFE/ARTS in an interview. He landed this award in the visual art category, and the door to university is now open. He is currently making his mind as to whether he must go to Wits or The Animation School. “I will soon make that decision. Both institutions offer great education with their various programmes that they offer,” he said. Looking at his entries, both the ones that got him listed for the ACT Nyoloha Awards and the works that got him the judges nod as the ultimate winner of the scholarship among the four listed for visual art, in the finals, it is clear that the judges were impressed by his comics art talent. This is.an area of the arts that is currently enjoying appreciation by art lovers globally, particularly comics books,

“At the awards ceremony that were held at a cinema in Montecasino, just before the announcement of the winner of the visual art category, all of us 15 finalists sat next to each other in the cinema. The tension was thick, and the lady next to me, one of the finalists held my hand as we waited for the judges’ verdict.  When my name was called, I remained immobilised for a few seconds, unsure of whether I must jump to the stage or not. When I did, I ran, and hoped that I was not going to fall and cause a spectacle. Jessica (Denyschen, Interim CEO of ACT), joined me on stage. I made a short speech while I was nervous,” said Rose, who hails from the Western Johannesburg suburb of Maraisburg.

“It was a huge relief for me and my family because now I could choose a university of my liking. Money is no longer an issue. The thing is I love my family and they have been supportive throughout my career from the time when I was at the National School of the Arts until I graduated in 2020, But there was simply no money to take me to university. I do not come from a rich family. But fortunately for the last two years of high school, I landed a scholarship that saw me through high school,” Rose explained.

Perhaps what Rose’s story is telling us is the fact that when there is talent, commitment and the will to pursue what  one loves, money or no money, there is always a way. God, the ancestors and the universe always conspire to make sure that the talented are not excluded from opportunities simply because of their family’s financial situation.  This is a tory of inspiration and in this edition of CITYLIFE/ARTS we are publishing the pictures of the artworks that made it possible for Rose to grab an opportunity to further his education and polish his God-given talent without having to worry about how he is going to pay for it.