Public Art Competition Closing Date and Judging Panel

Statement by Helen Zille, Premier of the Western Cape

Today we are pleased to announce the judging panel who will be evaluating all the entries for the Western Cape Government’s Art Competition. The closing date for entries is 15 October 2014.

The competition was launched by Minister Alan Winde on 7 August and has sparked conversation on the important role played by public art spaces in urban areas. Not only is public art valuable in invigorating our public spaces, it can make areas safer and more welcoming for different individuals and groups, thereby promoting social inclusion. The Western Cape Government is contributing to humanising these spaces in Cape Town and to supporting local designers and artists.

The Public Art competition is also one of the provincial government’s initiatives to promote design and celebrate 20 years of democracy.

Careful consideration preceded the choice of members of the judging panel. The members have been chosen for their wealth of experience in disciplines related to public art and have agreed to volunteer their time to judge competition entries at no cost to the Province. The judging panel members are:

• Ms Nomafrench Mbombo, Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport
• Ms Marilyn Martin, Senior Scholar, UCT Michaelis School of Fine Art; former Director of the SA National Gallery and Director of Art Collections at Iziko Museums
• Ms Beverley Schafer, Member of the Legislature of the Western Cape, former Ward 54 Councillor for Tourism, Events and Marketing in the City of Cape Town advocating Public Art
• Ms Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana, CEO: The Cape Town Partnership, key player in Cape Town’s Central City Development Strategy and Taipei World Design Capital 2016 Advisory member
• Mr Zayd Minty, Manager of Arts and Culture at City of Cape Town, former driver of Cape Town’s Design and Innovation District
• Associate Professor Jay Pather, Director: Gordon Institute for Performing and Creative Arts (GIPCA) and curator of Infecting the City Public Art Festival
• Professor Jo Noero, architect and former Director of the UCT School of Architecture and Planning

In addition, Dr Laurine Platzky, DDG for Strategic Programmes in the Department of the Premier will convene the panel.

Many potential participants have enquired about the competition and we expect a good response by closing date. Entrants are expected to show how their proposed artwork meets the goals set out in the brief which focuses on 20 Years of Democracy and celebrating 2014 as World Design Capital in Cape Town.

The announcement of the winners is scheduled for the 14^th of November 2014.

We encourage all public artists who have not submitted their entries yet to make sure they enter the competition before15 October 2014 at 16:00.

This deadline is for both electronic and physical hand in submissions.

No late submissions will be accepted. All entries must also have the submission and consent form attached, which can be found on the official website: www.westerncape.gov.za/WDC2014.

The Western Cape Government and judging panel are excited about engaging with the entries, and encourage artists to participate by submitting their entries before the closing date.

 Submission details:

Electronic submissions must be emailed to: events@westerncape.gov.za

Hand delivered submissions must be handed in by the closing date of Wednesday, 15 October 2014 by 16:00 at 15 Wale Street Reception, Provincial Legislature, Wale Street, Cape Town.

Kindly contact Ms Aeysha Augustus to arrange drop off: aeysha.augustus@westerncape.gov.za and 021 483 4618.