Bay arts council to run talent search

THE Nelson Mandela Bay Arts Council announced a talent search yesterday to find the city’s best and brightest.

The council hopes to pit 21 groups and 40 individuals against each other in a competition similar to e.tv’s SA’s Got Talent.

The search will be facilitated by the municipality’s sports, recreation, arts and culture directorate.

The announcement was made by the council’s deputy chairman, Martin Pram, at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton.

“This is open to everyone who is an artist. It is our own SA’s Got Talent and it will run in three phases from December 7,” Pram said.

“The three phases include talent search, talent contest and the grand event with performances.”

He said they hoped to collect data on different artists throughout the competition.

“This is so that we can assist them . . . We also want to create a platform for artists to be identified in terms of excellence.”

The talent search will also help to groom and brand artists.

“We want to identify the raw talent in the Bay and provide career paths,” Pram said.

Application forms will be available at Nangoza Jebe, Walmer Town Hall, Babs Madlakane, Raymond Mhlaba and Chatty Hall from November 19.