(To see previous winners of this prestigious award, click here)

The winners of the 2009 Standard Bank Young Artist Awards are as follows:

The Young Artist Awards are regarded as the most prestigious awards that recognise South Africans of a relatively young age who have demonstrated exceptional ability in their chosen fields but who have not yet achieved national exposure and acclaim. The awards were designed to assist in promoting the careers of those selected and, looking at previous winners, it is evident that this venture has proven to be successful.

The winners feature on the main programme of the National Arts Festival and receive financial support for their Festival participation, be it the mounting of an exhibition or the staging of a production, as well as a cash prize. The exhibition of the Young Artist for Visual Art is sponsored by Standard Bank to tour nationally and is hosted by major galleries and museums throughout the country. The fact that leading curators accept these exhibitions 'sight unseen' into their galleries reflects the very high standard of excellence achieved over the years.

The awards are a forum for experimentation where innovative concepts are tested and new directions explored. The Standard Bank believes the awards play a vital role in nurturing South African talent.

Since the inception of the awards in 1981, and including the 2010 recipients, a total of 105 awards have been presented plus five special awards to artists in recognition of their contribution to the National Arts Festival and the arts of South Africa.