This year’s theme, My Museum, My Art, encourages learners to explore and express what the National Museum in Bloemfontein means to them. The aim is to inspire artwork that is personal, meaningful, and rooted in individual interpretation of heritage and creativity.

The closing date for entries is Friday, 28 August at 15:00, and organisers have confirmed no late submissions will be accepted.

Participants are invited to move beyond the physical building and reflect on the stories, memories, objects, experiences, and imagination connected to the museum.

To assist participants, an information day will be held on Friday, 19 June from 14:00 to 16:00 at the National Museum at 36 Aliwal Street.

“We encourage young artists to show what the museum means to them through art, their own creativity and imagination,” said Bloemfontein National Museum creative representative Carien van Eck.

“The competition gives young people a platform to express how they experience and interpret cultural spaces through art. The competition is open to learners aged five to 19 years, with fantastic prizes to be won in our three age categories.”

The competition is divided into three categories: Category A (five to nine years), Category B (ten to 14 years), and Category C (15 to 19 years). Each category will have prizes awarded, and selected finalists will be invited to an official award ceremony where winners will be announced and celebrated.

The initiative continues the museum’s ongoing commitment to youth development and creative education. Last year, the competition formed part of Youth Month celebrations under the theme Made with Plastic, which encouraged learners to reflect on environmental issues, particularly plastic pollution and its impact on wildlife.

That edition of the competition challenged students to rethink plastic use and consider solutions to environmental challenges through creative expression.

Learners were encouraged to use their artwork to spark dialogue about responsibility, sustainability, and the protection of natural ecosystems, reinforcing the idea that young people play a vital role in shaping environmental awareness.

Entry forms can also be downloaded from the museum’s webpage.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame sm

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