Standard Bank Young Artist Awards 2027 Call for Nominations Opens

Nominations have opened for the 2027 Standard Bank Young Artist Awards, the long-running South African programme that spotlights emerging artists with a compelling and distinctive creative voice. The awards are presented by the National Arts Festival in partnership with Standard Bank.

For more than four decades, the awards have recognised practitioners across disciplines. Past recipients include Helen Sebidi, William Kentridge, Sibongile Khumalo, Mary Sibande, Yael Farber, Sello Maake ka Ncube, Neil Coppen, Zoe Modiga, Msaki, Koleka Putuma, Mandla Mlangeni, Gabi Motuba and Jefferson Tshabalala.

Artists from any discipline may be nominated. Previous categories have covered music, visual arts, jazz, theatre, dance, performance art, poetry and film, though the selection prioritises the strength and depth of an artist’s body of work over strict category alignment.

National Arts Festival Artistic Director Rucera Seethal said the awards honour artists who have developed distinctive practices and demonstrated sustained commitment. “The Standard Bank Young Artist Awards recognises artists who have a distinct artistic voice, who are steadily pushing their practice forward and who have already built an excellent and recognised portfolio at home and have notable international engagements.”

Seethal added that recipients will have the opportunity to develop and present new work at the 2027 National Arts Festival in Makhanda.

Standard Bank Group Head of Sponsorship Bonga Sebesho said, “Standard Bank remains proud to partner with the National Arts Festival in celebrating South Africa’s next generation of creative talent. This year’s nomination process advances our commitment to nurturing artists who shape, challenge and define our cultural narrative.”

Nominations must be submitted online by 23:59 SAST on 31 August 2026. Winners will be selected by the National Arts Festival’s Artistic Committee and Artistic Director, and will be notified later in 2026.