The winners of the 2000 Standard Bank Young Artist Awards were announced in Johannesburg yesterday. Alan Alborough (Visual Art), Zenzi Mbuli (Drama) and Gloria Bosman (Music) will appear on the main programme of the next Standard Bank National Arts Festival to be held in Grahamstown from June 30 to July 8, 2000. The awards guarantee the winners substantial backing for their festival participation whether this involves the mounting of an exhibition or the staging of a production.

Established in 1981, the Young Artists Awards (which carry an additional cash prize) recognise South Africans of a relatively young age who have demonstrated artistic promise but who have not yet achieved national exposure or acclaim. They are designed to encourage the winners in the pursuit of their careers.