New fine art prize launched for women artists from South Africa

By Edward Tsumele 

The fine art sector has received yet another boost with the launch of a generously inclusive award, whose call for applicants opened on Wednesday, 2, march, 2022.

This ANNa Awards  is so inclusive that the only requirement is that you must be an artist who identified themselves as women. No formal training, not age limit and no medium of practice limitation, nor are artists restricted by the number of years they have been in practice. Essentially, this award ceremony, which is brought by Latitudes Online, a platform for trading art online launched in South Africa in recent years, in partnership with ANNA Organic Products  is open to South African artists.

“The aim of the award is to discover, recognise and nurture a new generation of women artists in South Africa. It is an incredibly inclusive award, and as such, no formal art training is required in order to apply, there are no age restrictions for applicants, and the competition is open to women-identifying artists working in any medium.

Applications opened on March 2, 2022, and the winner, who will receive a R100,000 cash prize, a residency and more, will be announced on 9 August, to honour South African Women’s Day,” revealed the organisers in a media statement.

At stake in this annual event are two prizes, the first prize of R100,000 cash prize from ANNA, a month long  residency at PLAAS #inplaasvan in Franschhoek, South Africa, a profile on Latitudes Online, and a year’s supply of ANNA products. Their winning artwork will be included in the ANNA Awards Collection.

In addition there is a Special Prize that will see 12 finalists fight it out for this one by way of a presentation  to the Latitudes audience, who will be invited to vote for an Audience Award winner. This artist will receive a profile on Latitudes Online and a year’s supply of ANNA products. 

Meanwhile leading women activists and artists have welcomed this new addition to the country’s basket of arts awards.’

“The ANNA Award contributes strongly to diversifying the art canon as it holds an incredible opportunity for female-identifying voices to be heard and praised. This co-lead award honours all creative forces of mother nature and, at its essence, what it means to be a woman,” commented Nina Carew.

“These awards would be so very necessary at any point in the local art landscape. But now we are going into our third year of a global pandemic that has squeezed and tested artists in unimaginable ways. The ANNA Award is timely and exciting, well done to the Latitudes team for making this happen,” opines Refiloe Mpakanyane.

Art specialist Makgati Molebatsi believes that these awards will aid transformation in the fine art industry.

“It will elevate the strong presence of women in art and endeavour to enhance their value and representation in the art eco-system, be it galleries, museums, art fairs, auction houses, biennales. It is still a long way to reach parity, but every effort should be celebrated, and the Latitudes X ANNA Award is welcome contribution towards that journey,” s Molebatsi reflects.

“I think the ANNA award is important for so many reasons. Art is a way of speaking one’s truth and so many have been denied that throughout the years. I have always done my best to be an advocate for change and serving on a selection panel of individuals who change the lives of talented artists would be a huge honour,’ says businesswman  Jo-Ann Strauss.

For Juanita Kotzé, Creative Director of ANNA – Pure Organic Pads and Liners – South Africa’s first locally produced, environmentally friendly sanitary range,  the launch of this award is the next step in ANNA’s mission to embolden and empower women. “ANNA is about liberation, belonging, sustainability and truth, and I can’t think of a better way to share and express this ethos than through the creation and celebration of art.” 

Lucy MacGarry, co-founder of Latitudes, explains that the ANNA Award celebrates women artists who show extraordinary originality, imagination and dedication in their creative careers. 

“The ANNA Award is designed to give space and a voice to women’s stories through the medium of visual art, and we’re looking forward to the award becoming an important annual event in the world of contemporary art on the continent,” she adds.

Meet the selection committee: 

Candice Chirwa is an academic, author, TEDx speaker, podcaster, and social entrepreneur. Also known as the ‘Minister of Menstruation’, she is a thought leader with an avid interest in gender and youth issues in South Africa. Candice is also an author of two books, “Perils of Patriarchy” which sheds and unpacks women’s lived experiences in South Africa, and “Flow: The Book About Menstruation”. Candice has a TEDx Talk called Bad Blood focused on the stigmas surrounding Periods. Candice is doing her PhD studies in Menstrual Health Management. Candice currently serves as a Trustee Member for WWF Nedbank Green Trust.

Makgati Molebatsi: in pursuing her passion for visual art, Makgati retired from a thirty-year career in Marketing and Communications to study Art & Business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London in 2016. Makgati founded the art consultancy, Mak’Dct Art Advisory & Agency to provide guidance to private collectors, corporates, and early career artists in navigating the contemporary art world. In 2019, she was part of the team which cofounded Latitudes Art Fair in Johannesburg. She has served on the board of The Bag Factory Artists’ Studios, and the selection committee for the David Koloane Award, the Cassirer/Welz Award and the Sasol New Signatures Award 2019 and 2021.  Makgati currently sits on the board of Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) and has participated in their mentorship programme to the Ithuba Art Fund, a CSI initiative for emerging artists by the Citiq Group. Makgati holds a BA(SS) Degree from The University of the North. She currently is Senior Art Specialist with Aspire Art Auctions.

 Refiloe Mpakanyane is a seasoned radio and tv anchor who loves nothing more than researching and conducting a good interview. She is the host of Weekend Breakfast with Refiloe Mpakanyane on 702; is an experienced voice-over artist and her penchant for the arts and technology is underpinned by her entrepreneurial work in on demand audio and content.  Her clients as a facilitator and media trainer include the African Union Foundation and the Acturial Society of South Africa. Refiloe’s literacy advocacy work has seen her collaborating with the South African Book Development Council (and other literacy stakeholders) for many years to bring reading and books closer to South African children.

Nina Carew is part of the curatorial team at Latitudes and heads the first iteration of the ANNA Award. She holds a Masters Degree in Curatorial Studies and has recently run Latitudes’ two educational programmes, CuratorLab and ArtistLab. With years spent in art hubs and educational institutions, Nina brings a well-rounded arts perspective to the selection committee. She is passionate about emerging voices and giving a space for untapped talent to thrive. Fostering spaces of inclusion and creative freedom – with a personal touch – is at the core of her practice and personal philosophy.

 Jo-Ann Strauss: both in South Africa and worldwide, Jo-Ann Strauss is renowned for her ability to seamlessly integrate her witty charm and take audiences on an insightful and entertaining journey throughout the proceedings she hosts.

She has been the brand ambassador of Lufthansa, Samsung and BMW in South Africa and also sits on the boards of Media24 (one of Africa’s biggest media companies), M&C Saatchi Abel (award-winning advertising agency), Village and Life (a property and tourism company) as well as the advisory board of one of Africa’s top business schools, the University of Stellenbosch Business School. She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has designed a clothing range which raised funds to feed over 8000 families. She has MC’ed conferences for bespoke brands on 4 continents and traveled extensively as a television host and producer.

She is passionate about entrepreneurship and creating an environment in her home country which helps people grow their own businesses.

Marianne Fassler has spent over three decades in the fashion business. She operates from Leopard Frock, her creative workshop in Saxonwold, Johannesburg. She sells garments and separates off the peg and also consults with individual clients by appointment. Leopard Frock is a very relaxed environment where everybody is made to feel at home. Marianne and her team are always on hand to lend advice or to suggest alternatives.

Her work is always superbly crafted, interesting and comfortable. She appeals to a wide spectrum of women who love individuality, identity, craftsmanship and diversity in their wardrobe.

.Entry for these awards is open and will close on June 24, 2022, and the 12 finalists will be announced in July 2022. To  find the application  go to this  link: latitudes.online/anna-award