After joining forces in 2022, two female-centric brands in South Africa (ANNA and Latitudes) are partnering up again this year to present the ANNA Award. The ANNA Award identifies and celebrates contemporary women artists in South Africa, with the first prize winner receiving R100 000.
ANNA, South Africa’s first locally produced, environmentally friendly sanitary range, has the mission to embolden and empower women, and this award expresses this ethos through the celebration of art. Lucy MacGarry, co-founder of Latitudes, the fastest-growing online platform dedicated to art from Africa, says the award is designed to give space to women’s stories through the medium of visual art.
In order to make the award as inclusive as possible, no formal art training is required in order for artists to apply; there are no age restrictions for applicants; and the competition is open to women artists working in any medium.
The winner of the ANNA Award in 2022 was Lerato Nkosi, for her artwork that was inspired by her reading of Bell Hooks’ All About Love. Her work is fused with her fascination with the influence that we wield over each other, and how – with a word of encouragement, a piece of advice or a gentle nudge in a certain direction – one person can change another’s life. She is also intrigued by the fact that, often, it’s a woman who holds this transformative power.
Lerota says that awards like the ANNA Award are crucial platforms. “It’s vital that we create these opportunities for women artists. Our voices need to be heard.”
The selection committee for this year’s ANNA Award includes Samallie Kiyingi, Jana Terblanche, Freda Isingoma and Bridget Masinga. Bridget says that women artists are crucial in telling humanity’s story. “Thus it becomes paramount to ensure that they are not only supported, but to ensure that they have the financial freedom that allows them to pursue opportunities and develop careers in their chosen disciplines. We need to be deliberate and considered in advancing progress for women and women-identifying artists and creatives in all spaces and awards such as the ANNA Award do exactly that, by providing and opening space for artists.”
The winning artist will win an R100 000 cash prize from ANNA, a profile on Latitudes Online, and a year’s supply of ANNA products. The winning artwork will be included in the ANNA Award Collection. Twelve finalists will be presented to the Latitudes audience, who will be invited to vote for an Audience Award winner. This artist will receive a profile on Latitudes Online and a year’s supply of ANNA products.
Applications for the ANNA Award are open from 22 February to 16 June 2023. The top 12 finalists will be announced on 12 July, when the public will be able to vote for their favourite finalist, who will win the Audience Award. The ANNA Award winner will be announced on Women’s Day, Wednesday 9 August.
Visit https://editorial.latitudes.online/viewing-rooms/anna-award-2023/ to read more about the ANNA Award.
The application form can be found at https://bit.ly/3Nmx1p8
