Unisys has awarded a total of R60 000 in prizes to the winners of the inaugural Tri-Arts cultural triathlon, and also hosted the award ceremony at its premises in Sunninghill on 10 September.
Tri-Arts is a non-profit initiative begun by parents at Hyde Park High School, with the aim of uplifting the level of the arts in schools and rewarding those schoolchildren with exceptional talent with bursaries and other study resources to aid them in pursuing careers in art, music and creative writing.
The overall winners in the all-rounder category were Vivek and Siddartha Singh of Benoni High School, who were awarded R10 000 to be used for study or resource costs. Celeste Monteith of Crawford College in Pretoria was nominated for outstanding achievement all-round and was given R5 000.
The pilot competition ran in Gauteng, but it is hoped it can be extended nationally. All secondary schools in Gauteng were invited to enter their top candidates in art, writing and music. Entries came from schools across the income spectrum: from townships to rural areas to city schools.
Tri-Arts is endorsed by the Gauteng Department of Education. The project further aims to develop creative arts programmes at disadvantaged schools and to channel funds to them under an "Adopt a School" programme.
Frances Wright, a founder of Tri-Arts, says: "Creative arts among our youth is a much neglected field. Arts and culture do not enjoy a high profile - unlike the publicity given to sport.
"Without active intervention, many young people will drift into obscurity when faced with the harsh reality of earning a living and the prohibitive costs of tertiary education. We need to support them with sponsorships, bursaries and recognition for their teachers. Tri-Arts is inviting corporates to commission their talents, buy their art works, or adopt their schools."
Karen Toombs, HR director of Unisys, says: "The concept of an arts `triathlon` to encourage and award the development of arts skills among Gauteng`s secondary school pupils is unique. The Tri-Arts competition is very challenging, requiring of participants that they compete in three categories - writing, fine arts and music.
"Providing access to world-class training and development, through the Unisys University, is a hallmark of Unisys worldwide, and a key strategy for Unisys Africa. We recognise the importance of the arts in the growth and development of young people, and therefore we are very pleased to be able to sponsor the prizes for this first Tri-Arts triathlon competition."
Other prizes donated by Unisys (R2 500 each for outstanding achievement and R5 000 each for exceptional talent) included:
* Outstanding achievement in painting: Stefanie Towers, Benoni High School.
* Outstanding achievement in art: Joseph Malefetse, Thandukwazi Secondary School, Sebokeng.
* Exceptional talent in art: Jayson Baxter, Willowridge High School, Pretoria.
* Exceptional talent in painting: Frederick Clarke, St Albans College, Pretoria.
* Outstanding achievement in poetry: Mawabo Msingaphantsi, Germiston High School.
* Outstanding achievement in poetry: Kathryn Botes, Germiston High School.
* Exceptional talent in poetry and prose: Carla Heuer, Germiston High School.
* Exceptional talent in prose: Moyagabo Maake, Sonitus School for the Hearing Impaired, Pretoria.
* Outstanding achievement in music: Celeste Monteith, Crawford College Pretoria; and Jean-Pierre Verster, Hoerskool Erasmus, Bronkhorstspruit.
* Exceptional talent in music: Yasheen Modi, Sacred Heart College, Johannesburg; and Jolene Marais, Mondeor High School, Johannesburg.
Prizes donated by other corporates include:
* R1 000 for art resource materials to Ben Tjibe, Star of Hope Independent School, South Moloto - Design School SA.
* Commission to draw a series of cartoons for Ster-Kinekor for Tjibe.
* From Two Tone Design: For the three most highly motivated art departments in disadvantaged schools: Chipa Tabane Secondary School in Refilwe, near Cullinan (R1 000 for resource materials); Sijabulele Secondary School in Katlehong (R2 000); and Thandukwazi Secondary School in Sebokeng (R2 000).
* SA Life College: One year`s free tuition to be presented to a promising young Grade 11 or Grade 12 learner at Trinity Secondary School in Lenasia.
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