2025 YOUNG CREATIVES COMPETITION — BURSARY WINNERS
Drumroll, please… We’re beyond excited to reveal the winners of our 2025 Young Creatives Competition! With so much incredible talent on display, our judges had a tough choice — but the results are in:
Winner of the R100,000 bursary: Lukhona Gowa – @defnotlukhona37
Runner-up, R50,000 bursary: Declan James – @intheboxartist
We can’t wait to welcome these incredible creatives to CTCA in 2026 and see their visions come to life.
The calibre of submissions this year was truly exceptional, and we were impressed by the creativity, skill, and thoughtfulness shown by every participant. With so many strong entries, the selection process was no easy task.
The shortlist for the 2025 Young Creatives Bursary at Cape Town Creative Academy:
Lukhona Gowa – @defnotlukhona37
Alice Lowe – @_perks_of_drawing_a_wallflower
Grace Beattie @gracesgalleri
Amy Cobb – @ames_in_focus
Kian Winterbach – @kianwinterbach
Jada Leigh Sullivan – @ruizgetrrr
Tayla Stein – @taylastein
Nicolas Smart – @justnowcomics
Kinjal Bhagattjee – @art_by_kinj
Declan James – @intheboxartist
Winners will be announced on Friday, 15 August. Good luck to all our shortlisted entrants!
rules + terms and conditions
only learners who are currently in Grade 12, or who were in Grade 12 in 2024 and are taking a gap year are allowed to enter this competition.
artworks must be uploaded by 31 July 2025 BEFORE 21:00. Artworks submitted after this deadline will not be accepted!
all artworks submitted must be the entrant’s own original work.
plagiarised, illegible, incomplete, defaced or corrupt entries will not be accepted.
in order to be considered for a bursary, you have to enter 5 artworks (use Instagram carousel).
once your artworks have been submitted, you will not be able to modify them whatsoever.
the Cape Town Creative Academy has the right to report any artworks that condone hate speech and propaganda of violence against race, creed, gender or sexual orientation.
your artworks might be published on the Cape Town Creative Academy’s website and / or social media platforms, and might also be shown during specific exhibitions.
no royalties will be paid in the framework of this competition.
all entries are subject to a selection process. Works are judged individually based on concept, use of material, quality of craftsmanship and skill demonstrated. Bursary prizes will be awarded to individuals that show exceptional artistic talent and creative potential.
the bursary shortlist will be published on the Cape Town Creative Academy’s website on 8 August.
the bursary winners will be announced on the Cape Town Creative Academy’s website on 15 August.
bursaries may not be exchanged for cash, are not transferable and are only valid for the year 2026.
it is at the sole discretion of the Cape Town Creative Academy to award study bursary prizes.
the Cape Town Creative Academy’s decision on all matters pertaining to the competition is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
your Instagram account must be set to ‘public’ for the duration of the competition.