CIT:Y finalists named

Over 30 young artists have made it on to the CITY:Y Festival shortlist, from a record number of 139 submissions. Up for grabs are arts bursaries.
THE nominees in the CIT:Y Festival awards have been named. In all, there are just over 30 young artists who made the final cut.

Maleshwane Mohoasi, nominated for a dance award Maleshwane Mohoasi, nominated in the dance categoryWinners will be announced on 24 August at Museum Africa. The nominees are all students studying art at tertiary institutions in the City of Johannesburg. Various prizes, including bursaries, are up for grabs.

This year there was a record number of entries, with 139 submissions from 13 institutions. This figure, however, has been narrowed down to between three and five nominees per category. There are eight categories for CIT:Y this year.

Nominees can win bursaries worth R20 000; a career bursary of R30 000 will also be awarded to a final year student who will be pursuing a career in arts.

The awards are an initiative of the City community development department, under which falls the arts, culture and heritage directorate. They are held to encourage young people to pursue a career in the arts, and to help Joburg to maintain its reputation as a leading African art and culture hub.

The awards ceremony will open the CIT:Y Festival exhibition at Museum Africa. It will run from 25 August to 30 September, and will showcase the works of art submitted by entrants. It is part of the Joburg Arts Alive International Festival, a massive event that runs throughout September.

Melusi Mlauza's graphic design is up for CIT:Y awardMelusi Mlauza's graphic design is up for a CIT:Y awardThe nominees are:

Animation: Eric Barnfather, a third year student at Afda; Nadine Botha, also at Afda; Matthew Levinngs, a third year student at Wits University; and Thapelo Keetile, a fourth year student at University of Johannesburg (UJ).
Dance: Charity Sehlapelo, Nhlanhla Nzimande and Thuso Lebeko from Moving into Dance Mophatong, and Maleshwane Mohoasi from Vuyani Dance Theatre – all are first years.
Graphic design: Iris Raphalalani, Teague Wyngaard, Wandile Motha in the foundation course and Teboho Mofokeng in first year, all from Greenside Design Centre; and Melusi Mlauza, a third year student from Nemisa.
Music: Litha Bam, a first year student at Damelin; Miseka Gaqa, a foundation course student at Wits; and Sindisiwe Sibiya, a second year student at Central Johannesburg College.
Photography: Hemisa Bhana, a third year student at Wits; Lucy Turpin and Matthew Kay, intermediate course students at Market Photo Workshop; Thabiso Sekgala, also at Market Photo Workshop.
Textile design: Christopher Mdlane, Masetho Mohohlo and Thato Sekhoto, all fourth year students at Imbali Visual Literacy Project; and Daniel Mwale, a third year student also from Imbali Visual Literacy Project.
Visual arts: Errol Manota, a second year student at Artist Proof Studio; Minenkulu Ngoyi, a third year student at Artist Proof Studio; Molatjo Mabeba, a third year student at Wits; and Phumlani Ntuli, a fourth year student at UJ.
The broadcasting nominees are yet to be announced.