The 2015 ImpACT Awards winners: Lindiwe Maxolo, Jessica Denyschen, POPArt, Laurie van Heerden, Letlhogonolo Nche and Benon Lutaaya at the Maslow Hotel, Sandton. Photograph: John Hogg.

THE Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is inviting nominations for the eagerly awaited 2016 ImpACT Awards, which are held annually in recognition and celebration of excellence within the arts, culture and creative sectors in South Africa.

Nominations for the 2016 ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals, sponsored by The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) and the Distell Foundation in partnership with Sun International, are now open. This year there will be a total of five ImpACT Awards to honour young professional artists.

Since their inception in 1998, the ACT Awards have celebrated many individuals and organisations that have made a significant cultural contribution to the country. The awards have gained national acclaim and exposure throughout the industry, and are presented to individuals not older than 30 years old, and companies or organisations operating in South Africa for no more than five years.

Some of the previous ImpACT Award winners include: Lindiwe Maxolo, POPArt, Laurie Wiid van Heerden, Benon Lutaaya, Letlhogonolo Nche, The Muffinz, Blessing Ngobeni, Phillip Dikotla, Bambo Sibiya, Camron Andrews, Motlaji Ditodi, Ozlo Clothing Store, Nomfundo Xaluva, Thabo Makhetha Designs, Kyla Davis and Jade Bowers.

The ImpACT Awards are presented in five broad arts categories with selected disciplines being eligible for consideration in each. The public nominations are now open in the following categories:

• ImpACT Award for Visual Art – Artists working in the mediums of fine art, sculpting, public installations and photography.
•  ImpACT Award for Theatre – Artists practicing the disciplines acting, directing and writing for theatre, musical theatre and physical theatre.
• ImpACT Award for Music & Singing – Classical, contemporary, hip hop, traditional, jazz and other music composers, producers, musicians and singers.
•  ImpACT Award for Design – Artists working in the areas of craft, jewellery and fashion design, graphic design and arts-based web design.
• ImpACT Award for Dance – Trained contemporary, traditional, African, ballet and other dancers and choreographers.

ACT chief executive officer, Pieter Jacobs, is passionate about encouraging young artists and creatives around South Africa to be recognised and honoured.

“For ACT, the aim of this kind of acknowledgement for having done something superbly well is so much more than a boost of morale,” he added.

“The highlight these awards cast on its recipients’ careers offers them valuable exposure that associates them with individuals and groups that excel in their chosen field. The promotion and endorsement they receive, even years after being awarded, supports the growth of their markets and networks.”

Nominations for the ImpACT Awards for young professionals are open until Tuesday, May 3. ImpACT winners will receive a cash prize of R10 000 and additional PR opportunities that will be generated through the ImpACT Awards.

Please follow the link to submit your nominations: http://bit.ly/21iM2pP.

Featuring prominently as part of the ACT Awards are the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards. These awards are presented to deserving individuals who have made a profound impact and contributed significantly to the enrichment of the arts and culture environment in South Africa.

The categories for Lifetime Achievement Awards are: visual arts, theatre, arts advocacy, music, dance and literature.

The ACT Awards are presented in partnership with Sun International, The National Lotteries Commission (NLC), Nedbank Arts Affinity, Media24 Books, DALRO, Distell Foundation and Creativefeel Magazine.

For more information about the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) please visit http://www.act.org.za.