Seychelles Arts Award 2017/Biennale of Contemporary Arts |15 January 2018

Winners awarded cash prizes

The winners of the Seychelles Arts Award 2017 and of the Biennale of Contemporary Arts have received cash prizes on top of their trophies which they were presented with in November last year during the official Seychelles Arts Award ceremony

Their cash prizes were handed over to them by representatives of sponsors for both events during a short ceremony held at the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) last Friday.

Present during the ceremony on Friday were the chief executive (CEO) of the National Arts Council (NAC) Jimmy Savy and the chair of SeyMas Jean-Marc Volcy.

Those rewarded for the Arts Award were Daniella Rose (dance category); Santasha Hoareau (fashion category); Raymond Clarisse (filming and audio visual); Maggie Faure Vidot (literature); Jean-Marc Volcy (music); Eddy Thelemaque (music production); Urny Mathiot (photography); Joseph Sinon (theatre); Leon Radegonde (visual arts).

There was also a selection of jury awards presented, among which was an award for a young promising artist which went to Isham Rath while the traditional music award went to Brian Matombé  and Jerry Freminot was rewarded for tradition.

John Wirtz and Marie-Thérèse Choppy also received the lifetime achievement awards.

For the 2017 Biennale, the grand prize went to George Camille, who received R75,000 from Barclays and the award for most innovative artist and prominent local artist awarded by Airtel went to Danielle Dodin and Francesca Chang-Him respectively.

While Aarpirp Zaverie from India snatched the prominent international artist award.

Other sponsors of the event included Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC), Seychelles Institute of Art and Design (SIAD), Gills Pest Control, AVANI resort and spa, Constance Ephelia resort, YAW Enterprise, Seychelles Public transport Corporation (SPTC), Boat House restaurant, Hilton Seychelles Labriz, Marble Villa, Creative Industries and National Events Agency (Cinea), Bel Air Hotel, Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), Print House, Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), Nouvobanq and Gran Kaz.

Mr Camille said he is very proud as he managed to win an international competition and it shows recognition for his work.

“It was very very hard work and it took up a lot of our time but through team work with other artists we made it and I’m very proud the title was awarded to Seychelles,” he said.

He said the setting up of the exhibition costs more than the prize he received but he hopes to use the money to prepare himself for the Venice Biennale which he has been selected for.

“I took a gamble and it paid off,” he said.

Mr Radegonde said he will be donating his R25,000 to the school of La Digue as he felt it was his responsibility to do a charitable gesture with the prize.

“Together with the school we will identify a girl and a boy who show promising interest in art and use the money to help them develop their skills,” said the Diguois.

He said this is his way of giving back to La Digue.

Mr Rath said the prize he has won is a reward for all his hard work and it shows that “my art has touched individuals here in Seychelles”.

“This gives me the confidence to keep moving forward as an artist,” he said.

For 2018 Mr Rath hopes to continue working on his album which he could not complete previously as he was travelling back and forth for international competitions.

“Now I’m setting a target to concentrate more on my music,” he said.