Windhoek
Bank Windhoek and the National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN) have jointly launched a first-of-its-kind 30×30 art competition to promote new visual arts talent in Namibia.
The competition entitled Bank Windhoek 30×30 Art Competition, will require participants to translate their creative ideas into any medium on a 30×30 cm stretched canvas. The art competition aims to discover new and fresh talent in Namibia and encourage artistic excellence, creativity and individual expression. The competition will consist of two categories, namely a School Category for secondary school learners (Grade 8 to 12 and 14 to 19 years at the time of submission) and an Amateur Category for artists who do not have any tertiary art qualification and have not had a solo exhibition or participated in a curated exhibition.
In the first phase of the competition, participants are required to complete an application form and provide a short description of the idea that they intend to develop on the canvas. The idea can be supported by visuals such as preliminary sketches, collage, photomontage, etc., intended materials and/or written text. The judges will select the best 300 ideas (150 secondary school learners and 150 amateur artists). In the second and final phase of the competition, the 300 finalists will have to successfully translate their ideas into any type of medium. The judges will select the top 15 best artworks from each of the two categories, using the judging criteria described in the entry form. These artworks will be bought for N$750 in the School Category and N$1 000 in the Amateur Category.
The rest of the participants will receive a certificate of recognition and their artworks will be displayed at an exhibition where they will be on sale to the public for N$500. An exhibition catalogue will also be printed. The catalogue can be used by the participating artists as part of their art portfolios and to promote themselves as independent artists.
Speaking at the launch, Riaan van Rooyen, Head: Corporate Communication and Social Investment at Bank Windhoek said: “Bank Windhoek is recognised in Namibia as one of the biggest supporters of the Namibian arts industry. We therefore remain committed to the development of arts, as artists still struggle to gain the recognition and appreciation that they deserve. This competition is supplementary to the Bank Windhoek Triennial, which also aims to promote Namibian visual arts at national level, giving them the chance to exhibit their creative and artistic products and win prizes for their effort. We encourage all aspiring artists to take part in the competition, as it is about discovering new and fresh talent.”
The Director of the National Art Gallery, Hercules Viljoen, said: “The NAGN is extremely appreciative of the continued efforts of Bank Windhoek to stimulate the Namibian visual arts environment with incentives such as the Bank Windhoek Triennial and the 30×30 Competition. The latter is a brand new idea that will challenge a young and vibrant group of artists who may soon form the avant-garde of Namibian art. The 30×30 Competition is also another healthy challenge to other art loving private institutions who may wish to become actively involved in growing the popularity of Namibian art and to expand the boundaries of accepted norms in art.”
Entry forms can be submitted at any Bank Windhoek branch or agency countrywide and at the NAGN in Windhoek. The deadline for submission of entry forms and ideas is July 13, and the 300 finalists will be announced at the end of July. The deadline for the submission of final artworks is October 2 with the prize-giving ceremony and official opening of exhibition being October 16. The exhibition closes on October 31.