SAVAC Visual Arts Competition Tuition Scholarship

• 1st place in each category: R10 000 and a full tuition scholarship for the NQF5 Higher Certificate (Drawing for Art; Commercial Photography for Photography) at the Academy.
• 2nd place: R5 000.
• 3rd place: R2 500.
• Additional prizes include one for the art centre or high school with the most entries, an Apple iPad 11" (A16) Wi-Fi 128GB, and other prizes to be announced.
• Top works may be exhibited and published in the 2026 competition catalogue.

Photography finalists pay the printing cost of their selected works (the amount is communicated to them). Selected art entrants deliver and collect their artwork at their own cost.

• 2026 entries opened 6 July at 09:00 and closed 28 August at 17:00.
• Exhibition opening and prize ceremony: Saturday 3 October 2026, 11:00.
• Exhibition: 3 to 11 October 2026, 09:00 to 17:00, as part of Woordfees.

1. Complete the online entry form on the official SAVAC page; submit one artwork per entry (multiple entries allowed).
2. Pay the R120 fee per artwork.
3. Upload your artwork or image file, a copy of your ID (or passport or driver's licence), proof of payment and a 250-word artist's statement on the meaning, message and intended impact of the work.
4. Art entries: A3 up to 100 x 150 cm (A2, 42 x 59.4 cm, or larger preferred). If selected, deliver the work exhibition-ready and wall-mountable, not framed or under glass, with no name label on the front.
5. Photography entries: high-resolution JPEG at maximum quality in 3:2 or 4:3 ratio; basic cropping, exposure and colour correction only.
6. Selected artists are contacted by phone, email or WhatsApp. Queries: [email protected].

• Copy of ID, passport or driver's licence.
• Proof of payment of the R120 per-artwork fee.
• Artist's statement of 250 words.
• Artwork file or image (JPEG at 3:2 or 4:3 for photography).

Entries are judged on technical ability and skill (use of the elements of art, design principles and command of the medium) and on conceptual strength, assessed through the artist's statement. Photography entries are reviewed digitally in the first round, and selected artists are contacted for the exhibition.