"Third Cape Town Public Sculpture Competition"
2002-08-20 until 2002-08-30
Association for Visual Arts
Cape Town, , ZA South Africa

The winner of this competition will be announced at the opening, after which he/she will have 12 months in which to complete and install the winning sculpture on the designated site, corner of St George’s Mall and Shortmarket Street, in the heart of the city centre of Cape Town. The judges are: Alan Alborough, Rayda Becker, David Brown, Marilyn Martin, Melvyn Minnaar and Zwelethu Mthethwa.

A sum of R120 000 from the J.K.Gross Trust has been made available for this competition, the third of its kind for the city. R80 000 has been set aside for the making and installation of the winning piece and R40 000 is the prize money for the winning sculptor

John Skotnes won the first competition in the early nineties and his piece, "MYTHOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE" stands in Thibault Square, Cape Town. Brett Murray was the winner of the second competition in 1998 and his "AFRICA" can be found in St Georges’ Mall where it intersects with Waterkant Street, Cape Town.

The intention of these competitions is to enhance the city of Cape Town while creating a "walkway" of public sculptures in the heart of the inner city focusing on the St George’s Street Mall precinct. Through a daily interaction with these quality works of art ‘in the street’, the Cape Town public, locals and visitors alike, are exposed to and confronted by examples of the diverse talent and creativity of South African artists. In addition to aestheticizing the surroundings of the urban landscape of the city, the sculptures serve as a drawcard for tourists and have been the focal point of heated debate on the meaning of public art and the very significant, but underrated, role that it can play in the lives of a city and its peoples.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for South Africa

Other Important Exhibitions in South Africa