Calling young Artists!
Are you the future Irma Stern or Ester Mahlangu?

11th NEA Young Artist Award Competition 2023 Call for entries

Overview

The  National Eisteddfod Young Artist Award Competition, launched in 2013, provides an opportunity for top achievers in the Creative and Visual Arts. It provides a next level of competition for the future Ester Mahlangu and Irma Sterns of our country.

All artworks will be adjudicated by a panel of adjudicators that will include arts educators and artists from the arts industry.

How does one qualify to enter into this competition? 

Participants in activities of the National Eisteddfod of SA during the past year

• All participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa that received Diploma Awards for Visual Arts may enter into this competition.
• Participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa can also register their intention to enter online
• Lower entry fee applies, including an “Early Bird entry fee” for those who submit their entries ONLINE on or before 1 MARCH 2023.

Participants in other festivals or events during the past year.

• Any young artist that received a diploma or similar award last year in any other Visual & Creative Arts Competition/Festival/Eisteddfod, may enter.
• Organizers of other eisteddfods and festivals may also enter their top achievers in Art under the name of their organization.
• Alternatively, parents of participants in other Visual Arts eisteddfods and festivals are welcome to enter on their own.
• Schools, institutions, studios, do not necessarily participate in eisteddfods or other festivals or only do so bi-annually. Some of these institutions / studios manage their own internal visual arts events / competitions. In order to create an additional platform for young visual and creative artists, these institutions / studios are invited to enter their top achievers for annual National Eisteddfod Young Artist Award Competition.  The expected level of achievement is high; therefore these entries can only be selected and submitted by the relevant institution. This will usually follow a process of internal selection and cannot be done by individual parents.
• A copy of the diploma of similar certificate / report as awarded at another festival in 2022 should be attached to the entry.

What is the format of this competition for 2023?

Participants are required to submit the same artwork that received a diploma award last year for this next level competition. (A new artwork is not required for this competition!)

How do I submit my entry for the Young Artist Awards Competition 2023?

Last year’s recipients of Diploma Awards for Art in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa

The submission of visual art entries involves the following steps:

• Submission of your entry on the ONLINE entry platform or by e-mail on a HARD COPY entry form. 
• Last year’s participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa can submit entries online.  (A discounted entry fee applies to online entries.)
• Last year’s participants in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa can also submit entries in hard copy format. (Please note: a higher entry fee applies).
• Submission of entry fees / proof of payment BEFORE the  applicable closing date is required.
• Delivering / mailing the particular artwork to the NEA Office not later than 16:00 on 21 April 2023.

• Use the following link to submit your entry ONLINE. You will need your UNIQUE PARTICIPANT NUMBER as password to log in:

Recipients of Diploma or similar Awards for Art in other festivals and competitions

The submission of visual art entries involves the following steps:

• Participants in other festival/events/internal competitions can submit entries in hard copy format only.
• Proof of achievement should be submitted with the entry / entries.
• Entry forms for participants in other festival/events/internal competitions can be downloaded from the website (see button below).
• Entry forms and entry fees should be submitted before the closing date for entries.
• The entry fee for “Other Festivals” apply
• Delivering / mailing the particular artwork to the NEA Office not later than 16:00 on 21 April 2023.

How and where do I submit my Artwork?

Rules and Regulations for the 11th Young Artist Award Competition

General

• By entering this competition the participant accepts the rules of the competition as provided below and in supplementary documents on the website.
• Only diploma level candidates in the National Eisteddfod of South Africa in the preceding year (last year) or similar achievements in other festivals and competitions in the same period may enter.
• Grades refer to the relevant school grade as in the preceding year.
• Entry fees will be determined by the date of submission of the entry.
• Entry fees / proof of payment should accompany all entries.
• Entry fees are NOT refundable.
• The decision of the adjudicators is final and NO correspondence in this regard can be allowed.
• All artwork will be grouped and adjudicated according to the grade code.
• All participants (or their parents where applicable) should declare that the artwork as submitted is their own work. For this purpose the following procedure should be followed: Kindly attach a copy of the entry form (see above) to each art work before delivering it to the NEA Office. Submitting an artwork attached to this copy of the entry form constitutes a declaration that this art work is the participant’s own creation.
• By submitting an entry, a participant gives permission that the NEA may copy images of the artwork for promoting participating in the arts inline with the core business of the the purposes of the National Eisteddfod Academy (e.g. on the website, Facebook, printed material etc.).

Submission of art works

• Participants should attach a copy of the entry form to each artwork before delivering it to the NEA Office. In doing so, the participant also confirms that the artwork as submitted, is indeed his / her own work.
• The theme used for this artwork and the “name” of the piece should be provided in the box on the entry form.
• All artworks must be submitted to the NEA office not later than 16:00 on 21 April 2023.
• Address for collection and delivery: Bergzicht Office Park, Block 3, Suite 15, Crn, Christiaan de Wet & Rooibok Str., Allen’s Nek, Roodepoort.
• Participants should ensure that artworks are carefully packed / wrapped before submitting it to the NEA Office.
• Please note: The National Eisteddfod Academy will take all reasonable measures to protect artwork, but do not take responsibility for any loss off or damage to artworks due to reasons beyond its control .

Adjudication process

• A panel of adjudicators will adjudicate all art entries according to the school grade of participants.
• All participants will receive feedback and a certificate to confirm that they have participated in this competition.
• Participants will receive notification when the adjudication has been completed and should then arrange for the collection or return of their artworks at their own cost.
• The adjudicators will select the best art work in each grade and will select a winner in each of the following categories: Entry Level (Gr. 0 – 3), Junior (Gr. 4 – 7) & Senior (Grade 8 – Open Section).
• The grade winners will be presented with certificates to this effect, while the 3 category winners will be presented with trophies that will be specially specially made for this event.
• The art works of the grade winners will be exhibited at an art gallery prior to the Award Ceremony.
• Details about the Arts Award Ceremony will be provided on a later stage.