The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) have, over the past 17 years, supported young talent in the arts and honoured those who have significantly contributed to the industry. For their 20th Anniversary, the ACT Awards are setting the stage to pay homage to both legacies and legends alike.
Nominated in the Music & Singing category, Nomfundo Xaluva was born and raised in Port Elizabeth, Nomfundo was introduced to classical piano at the Victoria Girls Primary Boarding School in Grahamstown, when she was 12 years old. In her final year at high school Xaluva was determined to study jazz and enrolled for a BMus in Jazz Studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2003. In that same year she joined the National Youth Choir, where she made her solo debut in 2009. Xaluva then completed her Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies (Voice & Dissertation) from UCT, where she graduated with Distinction. For her Master’s Degree she did a dissertation on the music of Mama Afrika and entitled it The Analysis of the Musical Style of Miriam Makeba. Xaluva recorded her first album, Kusile, in 2011, produced by Mandisi Dyantyis. Xaluva has shared a stage with jazz legend Sibongile Khumalo, she has also performed at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival as part of the Mzansi Golen Voices who tributed Brenda Fassie with the German Orchestra Kicks and Sticks. In August 2014, Xaluva headlined her own concert at the Port Elizabeth Opera House as part of the inaugural Nelson Mandela Bay Concert Series. Here, she also taught a Vocal Masterclass as part of the mentorship aspect of the initiative. Currently she is Head Vocal Coach at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts.
Lesotho-born Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana started her own business in 2009. Makhetha-Kwinana graduated from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University with a National Diploma in Fashion Design. She was named as one of House & Leisure Magazine’s 2013 Rising Stars. The Thabo Makhetha brand has showcased designs locally in various Port Elizabeth fashion shows; nationally at the Design Indaba in Cape Town in 2013, and selected as a semi-finalist for the SA Fashion Week Renault New Talent Search. The label was recently invited to showcase the Spring/Summer 2015 collection in Canada, at the Vancouver Fashion Week. The Nelson Mandela Business Chambers have honoured Makhetha-Kwinana as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Achievers of 2014. The Thabo Makheta brand plans to showcase their designs on international and national Fashion Week runways. The company has already begun with plans to roll out an online store to reach the international market.
Over the years the ACT Awards have recognised over 130 individuals and organisations for their significant contribution to art, culture and heritage in South Africa. These awards show the sustainable impact ACT pursues in the creative industry. For the fourth year, ACT and Distell Foundation will award four young professionals or groups who have made an impact during the first five years of their careers.
Irma Albers from Distell Foundation says “We are proud to be involved with the ACT Awards. By investing in emerging talent particularly through the ImpACT Awards, we hope to play an important role in raising standards and spreading interest and appreciation for newcomers in the South African creative arts industry, locally and abroad. Congratulations to all the participants and winners – we wish you all a bright future, as you establish yourself as key role players in building the economy of our country.”
ImpACT Awards are given annually to honour young artists that have reached a notable level in their careers and public nominations in the categories of Theatre, Visual Art, Design and Music & Singing were invited.
“By benchmarking excellence the ACT Awards set industry standards. In addition, the process of identifying recipients, highlights those creative professionals working in the industry who not only meet but exceed those standards thereby raising the bar. What this does is highlight exceptional talent in the industry. This spotlight creates a platform for these individuals who might not otherwise receive this kind of recognition – recognition that has the potential to powerfully propel sustainable careers in a highly competitive industry, “says Pieter Jacobs CEO of ACT.
The finalists for the 2014 ImpACT Awards include fashion and interior designers, and concept brands; fine art print-makers, curators and entrepreneurs; singers, songwriters and musicians; and playwrights, actors and directors. Every year the variety in skill and talent make the judging process even tougher, and this year is no exception. Each winner will receive a feature in ClassicFeel Magazine to the value of over R25 000 and a cash prize of R 1 500.
The judges for the ImpACT Awards include visual artist David Koloane, fashion designer Eugienie Drakes, jazz musician Herbie Tsoaeli and Moving into Dance Mophatong’s Nadia Virasamy. Caroline Smart, the convenor of the judging panel and ACT Trustee says: “As always, it’s an extremely difficult decision to make – to choose four successful candidates out of a very impressive list. However, a choice has to be made and the panel has to look at a number of issues; the most important issue being the potential development of the individual in his or her chosen arts discipline. Another facet is how the acknowledgement of the ImpACT Award could make a difference in enhancing the recipient’s career. What is also very important is to acknowledge the philosophy of the Arts & Culture Trust’s sponsors and to make sure the recipient reflects these with pride.”
The cornerstone of the ACT Awards is the presentation of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards for Theatre, Music, Visual Art and Literature. Lifetime Achievement Award winners are nominated and selected by the ACT Board of Trustees, the recipient is someone that the sponsors are proud to acknowledge for their contribution to the arts. This year ACT has added a category of Arts Advocacy to these Awards, launched in partnership with ClassicFeel Magazine, honouring patrons in the arts who have devoted a lifetime of work to supporting the arts.
The judges, being members of the ACT board of Trustees and the committee, specifically choose winners who stand out from the artistic excellence of their work; their experience in the industry and the impact this has had on their community and the commerce of the creative industry as a whole. The Lifetime Achievement Award winners are given R30 000 each, totalling an impressive R600 000 since 2008.
Alan Straton
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