CITY sets entry record

Arts students have submitted a record number of entries for the CIT:Y Festival, with some 13 tertiary education institutes represented this year.
THERE has been a record number of entries for the CIT:Y Festival this year, with 129 submissions – double the number since the festival was first held in 2003.

Dance talentTalented performers have a chance to win bursariesStudents from 13 tertiary education institutions in Johannesburg entered the competition, according to Rosie Katz, the art and culture programme co-ordinator of the awards. They include Afda, Boston Media House, Central Johannesburg College, University of Johannesburg and University of Witwatersrand.

To enter, students had to submit their works of art in the field they are studying. Entries closed on 3 August.

The festival – in which art students can win study bursaries – is an initiative of the City’s arts, culture and heritage directorate, which is in the community development department. Its purpose is to encourage young people to pursue a career in the arts.

Another aim is to “maintain the City’s reputation as a leading African art and culture hub”, says Alba Letts, the acting head of the directorate. This year’s record number of entries demonstrates the abundance of young people in Johannesburg who are enthusiastic about pursuing a career in the visual, performing and craft arts industries, she adds.

The students can win bursaries worth R20 000 or R30 000, depending on the standard of work or performance they submit to the CIT:Y Festival.

There are eight judging categories and two judges will be allocated to each category to pick the winner. The judges will assess the work submitted and the nominees will be announced on 19 August.

Glenda Venn, the chairperson of the South African Graphic Design Council, and Christopher Gough Palmer, the owner of a communication design, branding and consultancy company, will judge the graphic design and textile design category.

Professional photographers Peter McKenzie and Debbie Yazbek will judge the photography category, while music will be judged by Kaya FM presenter Nicky Blumenfeld and a popular musician Joe Nina.

Entrants will have a chance to display their workEntrants will have a chance to display their work at the CIT:Y FestivalDancers will have to impress the artistic director of Agulhas Theatre Works, Gladys Agulhas, and the award-winning choreographer, PJ Sabbagha.

Gary Oberholzer, a producer on Talk Radio 702, and Stan Bodibe, a director of TMSB, a communications company, will judge the broadcasting category.

Animators will have to amaze Kerry Liss, a production supervisor at Jock Animation, and Glenn Ewan, an animator at Jock Animation.

The visual arts category will be judged by Antoinette Murdoch, the chief curator at the Johannesburg Art Gallery, and Khwezi Gule, the chief curator at the Hector Pieterson Museum.

The winners of the bursaries will be announced on 24 August at Museum Africa. The ceremony will double as the exhibition opening, of all the work submitted for CIT:Y Festival.

Running under the umbrella of Joburg’s Arts Alive International Festival, the exhibition will be open from 25 August to 30 September.