Zizi Kodwa Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture launches ‘Grammy and Oscar’ style awards amidst criticism by some artists
The closing date for nomination is February 29, 2024.
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
Zizi Kodwa Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture yesterday, February 22, 2024, launched the much talked about arts “Grammy and Oscar style” awards at the Melrose Art Gallery in Sandton. The awards chaired by well known brand specialist Thebe Ikalafeng will see triumphant artists awarded R100 000 in each of the 30 categories clustered according to genres. This in fact makes this award ceremony the richest in the country. Ikalafeng will be assisted by a panel that includes veteran actor and theatre director John Kani and sculptor and poet Pitika Ntuli. And according to Ikalafeng the award ceremony has so far received in access of 150 000 entries.
“The idea of the awards is that the Department will collaborate with the private sector for funding so that in the long term the arts do not depend on government funding. The awards are also a far departure from the past where we recognized artists posthumously/ As we award the living artists we also recognize the contribution of those artists that have created meaningful work predating 1994.We want to grow these awards to the status of the Grammy and Oscar ” Kodwa said.
However the awards are not without glaring omissions. For example absent in all the categories is a category recognising the work of arts journalists and critics whose writing helps in many ways to shape and add value to the work of artists.
However Dr Cynthia Khumalo, the acting Director-General explained that this was the beginning and as time goes on there would be a refinement of the awards, possibly adding more categories.
The awards have been launched also amidst a raging debate on social media platforms by a section of the arts and culture sector who are criticising the timing and not the necessity of the wards perse. Some feel that instead of launching the awards prematurely, government should rather focus on funding projects that have a meaningful significance in the sector. Only after that should government consider starting an awards ceremony in recognition of the creative output that would have come out of such projects. Creating an awards ceremony without the necessary and adequate funding of the sector risks the ceremony funding mediocre work.
“Arts development funds utilised for nonsensical Awards at the expense of youth empowerment and arts development.
What is the department awarding or celebrating, when the very same department and its senior civil servants, protected by the minister are busy sabotaging the development and transformation of the same arts and creative industries. This is just another egocentric and looting scheme to continue to siphon the public purse,” says outspoken South African Roadies Association President Freddie Nyathela.
Awards Categories
THE HERITAGE SITE CATEGORY
OUTSTANDING MUSEUM AWARD
OUTSTANDING ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL SITE AWARD
OUTSTANDING CULTURAL LANDSCAPE AWARD
THE LITERARY WORKS CATEGORY
OUTSTANDING CHILDREN FICTION BOOK
OUTSTANDING BOOK, FICTION AWARD
OUTSTANDING BOOK, NON-FICTION AWARD
OUTSTANDING PUBLISHER AWARD
THE VISUAL ARTS & CRAFTS CATEGORY
OUTSTANDING VISUAL ARTIST AWARD
OUTSTANDING CURATOR AWARD
OUTSTANDING CRAFTER AWARD
THE AUDIO VISUAL & INTERACTIVE MEDIA CATEGORY
OUTSTANDING FILM FICTION AWARD
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY FILM OR TV SERIES AWARD
OUTSTANDING TV DRAMA AWARD
OUTSTANDING ACTOR TV AND FILM AWARD
OUTSTANDING ANIMATION AWARD
OUTSTANDING GAMING AWARD
THE PERFORMING ARTS CATEGORY
OUTSTANDING THEATRE PRODUCTION AWARD
OUTSTANDING DANCE PRODUCTION AWARD
OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN AWARD
OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN THEATRE AWARD
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARD (POET, COMEDIAN)
THE DESIGN & CREATIVE SERVICES CATEGORY
OUTSTANDING FASHION AND TEXTILE DESIGNER AWARD
OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC & MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER AWARD
OUTSTANDING PRODUCT AWARD
OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN AWARD
The closing date for entries is February 29, 2024 and to nominate go to cciawards.co.za
