The Faculty of Arts & Design will host its annual Emma Smith Art Award Scholarship where art students will complete for the R50 000 scholarship.
The award ceremony and opening exhibition will take place on 14 May 2018 at 6pm at DUT City Campus’ Arthur Smith Hall and the exhibition will be on open view until 15 May 2018 at the campus.
The Emma Smith Scholarship Award was introduced in 1920 by KwaZulu-Natal Sugar Industry magnate Sir Charles Smith. Named after his mother, Smith’s endowment was made in appreciation of the work of visionary Art School Head, John Adams.
Adams was the Head of the Art School and an influential figure in education and the arts in Natal. He was a graduate of the Royal College of Art and under his leadership the Durban School of Arts established its reputation not only in the field of Fine Art but also in the Applied Arts.
The Faculty of Arts and Design’s Executive Dean, Dr René Smith said it is on the basis of his pioneering that the Faculty of Arts and Design maintains its high reputation in the modern, technological world.
“This engagement with the contemporary world has resulted in our annual DUTDigiFest, which promotes Arts and Design disciplines in the digital era,” said Smith.
DUT’s Art Gallery Curator and organiser of the competition, Francesca Verga, said the students’ work on exhibition is a representation of the top students from across the Faculty of Arts & Design.
“The Emma Smith Art Award Scholarship exhibition showcases the best creative work that the Faculty has to offer and is of an exceptional standard. The nominees are selected based on existing student work produced during 2017, which includes third year and BTech level. This body of work is shown as part of the exhibition and is considered as part of the judging process,”
The first winner of the award was Elsie Currie and other notable winners include Dion Chang; South African corporate trend analyst and design consultant, photographer Angela Buckland and artists Deanne Donaldson and Ledelle Moe.
Fashion and Textiles’ Leandi Mulder won the 2016 competition for her collection made entirely of second hand fabrics.
The Nominees are:
Tayla Horn (Fashion Design)
Jessica Shuttleworth (Fashion Design)
Bukelwa Ndakisa (Fine Art)
Bongumusa Shezi (Fine Art)
Shannon Fisher (Graphic Design)
Nosibusiso Ndlovu (Interior Design)
Nothando Jeza (Interior Design)
Nandi Ndongeni (Photography)
Mthobisi Cele (Video Technology)
The award ceremony will be held as follows:
Venue: DUT City Campus, Arthur Smith Hall.
Date: Monday, 14 May 2018.
Time: 5:30pm for 6pm.
Pictured: Leandi Mulder, last year’s winner of the Emma Smith Art Scholarship Award. Her fashion collection also earned her the Most Commercial Range on Show award at the 2016 annual DUT Fashion Show.
Picture credit: Colourise Photography Studio
Andile Dube
