Carien van Eck, creative from the National Museum, joins Yolanda Maartens in the OFM Art Beat to talk about the entry process and the three categories. 

Rethink plastic and protect wildlife. If we don’t think about our wildlife and choose to protect it, who will? Students are encouraged to participate in the competition and create art inspired by plastic pollution's effects, challenges, and solutions.

Through art, creative dialogue is encouraged to inspire action towards a more harmonious relationship with our environment.

2025’s Free State Young Artist Competition theme aims to do just that, to spark this creative dialogue and to shine light on a responsibility that each person should be taking.

So, are you an aspiring young artist? 

Have you dreamed of seeing your work exhibited in a National Museum?

Download ENTRY forms at https://nasmus.co.za/category/news/ or collect at the National Museum Information Desk.

Submissions:

Learners can submit original artworks that focus on “MADE WITH PLASTIC”.

Artwork submissions will be accepted in a variety of media, provided that they:

• Are not potentially harmful.

• Do not exceed 1m x 1m size.

• Do not exceed 30 kg in weight.

The closing date is 2 August 2025 at 15h00. No late entries will be accepted.

A finalist in each category will be invited to the Award Ceremony, where our panel of judges will announce the winners and offer professional advice to aspiring artists.

C_A_T_E_G_O_R_Y_ _A_

Open to pre-school to primary school learners aged 5 to 9 years old.

(1st Prize R1500 | 2nd Prize R500 | 3rd Prize R300)

C_A_T_E_G_O_R_Y_ _B_

Open to school learners aged 10 to 14 years old.

(1st Prize R2000 | 2nd Prize R1000 | 3rd Prize R500)

C_A_T_E_G_O_R_Y_ _C_

Open to High School learners aged 15 to 19 years old.

(1st Prize R3000 | 2nd Prize R1500 | 3rd Prize R1000)

OFM cg