The Social Impact Arts Prize is a new art prize with a focus on social impact that has a direct, measurable effect on individuals and communities, as a result of a site-specific arts-based activity, project or programme, in and around the town of Graaff-Reinet and the Valley of Desolation in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

The idea came from a longstanding interest in the intersection between the arts, science, social impact and the environment. So marrying the arts and its potential as a catalyst for change with a social impact initiative resulted in the Social Impact Arts Prize.

Executive Chairwoman, Hanneli Rupert, also grew up surrounded by art, artists and people with a passion for their community and the natural world, and feels strongly about passing this knowledge forward. As a keen proponent in the concept of a Museum without Walls – a democratic space for learning, without entrance fees or predefined opening hours – her hope is to bring this concept to life in Graaff-Reinet. Rupert sees the Museum without Walls as a living residency space for thinkers whose ideas the Social Impact Arts Prize will potentially help to realise and will, in turn, benefit the greater community.

Unlike most established art competitions which focus specifically on fine art – this initiative will also provide a different lens on art practices and their role in communities – how a great idea has the potential to motivate, inspire and help a group of people, and be used as a catalyst for change.

We are calling for artists, architects and engineers, landscapers, environmentalists, creative visionaries and other experienced community-based creatives to enter – creative individuals who know how to deliver on a plan. Ideally, candidates should have experience in the workplace and be adept at managing teams. It’s open to collaborations, collectives and partnerships too – but most importantly – we are looking for groundbreaking ideas.

The call for entries opens on Wednesday 11 September 2019.
Participants need to register on www.socialimpactartsprize.org
On registration, participants will receive an entry number.
The closing date for registrations is Sunday 1 December 2019.
The closing date for submissions is Sunday 15 December 2019.

The entry needs to be uploaded onto www.socialimpactartsprize.org as a word document, PDF, jpeg, movie or animation (or a combination of these formats) so that international judges are able to view the submissions on a computer screen from anywhere in the world.

Written proposals, photographs, sketches or any other visual material will be accepted. Submissions must include the following:
i) Project concept
ii) Project plan
iii) Production schedule or time plan
iv) Budget plan and estimate

Please register on www.socialimpactartsprize.org for more detailed information to be delivered on the 11th of September.

The website includes a set of due diligence questions that will also help the artist explain the project from concept to execution, test its robustness as a social impact project and complete the submission from a timing and budget perspective.

Between 11 September and 1 December 2019, we will be holding a series of workshops in Johannesburg, Cape Town and various centres across South Africa. These will be recorded and available on the website. Draft proposals can be submitted for preliminary feedback on the quality of its completion and NOT the project itself.

The prize focuses on specific categories in South Africa where social impact can be qualitatively and quantitatively measured. These categories are education, employment, community, environment, technology and direct arts, as well as the overlap of any of these.

There is no entry fee.

We are not necessarily limiting the result to one proposal only and so the budget depends entirely on the winning proposal or proposals. We will supply guidelines for budget construction, but ultimately, each budget will be determined by the artist’s concept. The budget will form part of the evaluation criteria, which will then be discussed and refined upon being awarded.

The Rupert Art Foundation is funding the Social Impact Arts Prize and the Rupert Museum will host the shortlisted and awarded projects.

We are looking at an international panel of esteemed individuals who have proven expertise in arts, culture, community and social practices. The judges will be announced.

Graaff-Reinet is the birthplace of Anton Rupert and the home to much of the philanthropic work that the Rupert Foundations support. This is another way in which to give back to a community that already has familial links, and the Social Impact Arts Prize will add another stream to the way in which the Foundations support Graaff-Reinet.

The awarded project – be it an individual, partnership, collaboration or collective – will need to implement the winning project on site. Much like an artists residency, the team will be accommodated in Graaff-Reinet for the duration of the time it takes to build, work with people from the local community, complete training or skills transfer where necessary.

The advisory panel will include representation from Graaff-Reinet.

While the judging panel will develop a matrix within which they will agree to adjudicate each entry, some key notions would be creativity, imagination, professionalism, sustainability, site response and the impact on the engaged community.