WeeklySA_AdminTRAILBLAZERS: From small-town storytellers to globally recognised performers, this year’s Young Artist Award winners reflect the depth, diversity and resilience of South Africa’s creative talent…
By Jacob Mawela
The 2026 announcement of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners brought Sandton’s Artistry hub to life, celebrating five exceptional creatives across visual arts, jazz, theatre, dance and music.
The annual awards, among the most prestigious in South Africa’s cultural calendar, recognise artists who have already demonstrated sustained excellence — not newcomers, but practitioners whose work is ready to be elevated onto a larger national and global stage.
At a media preview ahead of the official evening announcement, Dr Same Mdluli, head curator of the Standard Bank Gallery, described the winners as joining the institution’s “Blue Family” — a nod to the bank’s commitment to backing artists with meaningful support and visibility.
Among the honourees is sculptor Bronwyn Katz, whose work explores memory, material and alternative ways of recording history beyond traditional archives. Based in Cape Town and trained at the University of Cape Town, Katz described the award as both an honour and recognition of a decade of dedicated practice.
As part of her prize, she will exhibit at the Standard Bank Gallery and the National Arts Festival in Makhanda.
In theatre, Northern Cape-born Jason Jacobs was recognised for his deeply rooted storytelling, drawing from Nama-Khoi heritage to interrogate identity, history and community. Reflecting on the accolade, Jacobs emphasised its significance for artists from smaller towns, saying it affirmed that their voices and experiences matter on a national stage.
Jazz artist Gabi Motuba, a saxophonist and educator from Mamelodi, was honoured for her expressive and innovative approach to music, blending jazz with Afrobeat influences. Her journey from early exposure through her father’s vinyl collection to international recognition underscores the award’s celebration of both heritage and evolution.
Dance recipient Lee-ché Janecke, a self-taught choreographer raised in Bonteheuwel and Eldorado Park, represents a new generation of creatives pushing boundaries. Despite facing adversity, including homophobic violence earlier in his career, Janecke has gone on to achieve global acclaim, notably as choreographer behind Tyla’s hit Water.
Completing the cohort is eSwatini-born musician Ndumiso Manana, whose work spans Afrobeats and global sounds. A former Drakensberg Boys Choir member, Manana has collaborated internationally, including contributing to Burna Boy’s Grammy-winning album Twice as Tall.
The awards ceremony drew a host of prominent figures from the arts and media, culminating in an evening of celebration as the winners were formally unveiled.
Each recipient will now develop new work to premiere at the 2026 National Arts Festival in Makhanda — reinforcing the awards’ enduring role not only as recognition, but as a catalyst for future creativity.
