Sasol scoops BASA Award

Sasol New Signatures Art Competition, in partnership with the Association of Arts Pretoria, has been awarded the BASA Long-Term Partnership Award for 2017.

The partnership between Sasol and the longest running national art competition in the country has, over the past 28 years, formed the cornerstone of Sasol’s commitment to art and culture.

BASA honours exceptional projects that demonstrate the positive and sustainable impact of dynamic business and arts partnerships. The 20th Annual BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard and Business Day, were held at Nirox Sculpture Park in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site against the stunning natural backdrop of the Khatlhampi Private Reserve. The day’s experience was inspired by this year’s theme, Disruption.

Guests were treated to an experience from the moment they arrived at the venue, with memorable performances throughout the Sculpture Park itself and given the time to explore this remarkable space where nature meets art. The performances - in the form of activations – were provided by Buskaid, Moving Into Dance Mophatong, The Field Band Foundation, Olifantland and Vuyani Dance Company – all arts organisations which have benefitted from the positive impact of business has had on art through collaboration.

To mark the invaluable contributions BASA has made to South Africa’s arts landscape over the last 20 years, five illustrators - Karabo Poppy Moletsane, Imile Wepener, Ndumiso Nyoni, Johan de Lange and Ben Grib - were commissioned to visually narrate some of the organisation’s most significant milestones.

 “Sasol is delighted to be recognised for its support of the contemporary arts in South Africa as art plays an important part in the cultural fabric of any nation,” said Wrenelle Stander, Senior Vice President: Corporate Affairs. “Competitions such as Sasol New Signatures serve to encourage greater creativity across age, gender and education, as well as to acknowledge the wealth of talent that we have in our country,” Sasol has been involved in the arts, both as a supporter and collector of local artworks, since the 1980s, and boasts a collection of more than 2 000 art pieces. Over the years, Sasol New Signatures has  grown in stature, which is visible from the with increasing number of entries annually and the improvement in the quality of the entries.