By Taiye Olayemi
BIC, producer of stationeries has called on African artists to bring African culture to life through their art as they engage in the sixth edition of BIC’s Art Master Africa competition.
Gregory Alibaux, Art Master Africa Custodian and Marketing Director for Middle East and Africa at BIC made the call in a statement on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that BIC’s Art Master Africa is an annual competition open to artists and creatives across the Middle East and Africa region.
Alibaux who announced the kick-off of the sixth edition of the art competition, called on creatives across the region to depict their interpretation of the year’s competition theme “Ubuntu”.
He noted that Ubuntu invited artists to express what unity and interconnectedness within Africa meant to them.
He said this should be done using the BIC ballpoint pen.
Alibaux noted that submissions would be accepted effective April 2024 through the BIC Art Master Africa website.
According to him, participants will have three months to complete their artwork before judging takes place, followed by the winner announcements in the last quarter of the year.
“We are pleased to kick-off the highly anticipated competition, Art Master Africa.
“We continue to provide a platform for artists and creatives in the region to help them express themselves, all in line with our commitment to encourage self-expression and creativity.
“This year is special for the competition as it also marks the year where we elevated the programme by launching an Art Master Africa Metaverse Gallery, crossing borders and bringing African talents to the world.
“Entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and technical skills.
“First, second, and third place winners will be rewarded by BIC with $2,000, $1,000, and $500 respectively. A total of nine winners from across the region will also be announced and awarded,” he said.
Alibaux noted that artwork of selected participants would be included in various art platforms owned by BIC, including the most recently launched Art Master Africa Metaverse Gallery.
He said Art Master Africa was introduced in 2017 in South Africa.
“After becoming highly anticipated within the art community, the competition expanded into the wider Middle East and Africa regions.
“Every year, a theme is introduced by BIC, that creatives are asked to depict using the BIC ballpoint pen.
“To date, Art Master Africa has engaged with over 6,000 creatives from across the region,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
