It’s time to celebrate nature through creativity
The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (Gouritz Biosphere) is recognised by UNESCO as a place of global ecological importance, with rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. The whole of Hessequa falls within this special region.
We’re calling on all teenagers, aged 13 to 19, who live or go to school in Hessequa, to showcase their talent and Hessequa’s nature in the Inheems 2026 Teen Art Competition!
How to Enter
Your share of R20,000 in cash prizes can be won, and your artwork could even be featured on GCBR and Hessequa apparel and merchandise!
This is your chance to explore the incredible indigenous and endemic plants, animals, insects, fungi, rivers, oceans, and hidden life forms that make our region so unique. Through art, discover the small, strange, rare, and connected species that form part of Hessequa’s incredible web of life, and help others see the wonder of nature through your eyes.
Here’s how to take part:
- Create a painting or drawing (any medium is welcome) inspired by our indigenous wonders and linked to one or more of this year’s categories.
- Get an entry form from your local Hessequa Library or download it here.
- Submit your artwork and entry form at your local Hessequa Library by 10 August 2026. You may submit up to three entries.
What Are the Categories?
Your artwork will be judged by an independent panel of experts, based on the following themes:
Small, Strange & Spectacular
Look closer. Focus on the tiny, the weird, and the often-overlooked; like insects, reptiles, fungi, lichens, or anything hidden in plain sight. Some of the most fascinating life forms are the ones we usually miss.
Rare & Remarkable
Some species really need our attention. This theme is about plants and animals that are rare, threatened, or unique to our region. Use your art to highlight them, what makes them special or why they matter.
Water Worlds
Water is life. Explore the rivers, wetlands, estuaries, rockpools, and ocean spaces of our region. From freshwater and marine species to the ecosystems that support them, there’s a whole world beneath the surface.
Wild Connections
Everything is connected. Nature is not just about individual species; it’s about relationships. Show how plants, animals, water, and people are linked. Think pollination, food webs, or unexpected partnerships in nature.
What Can Be Won?
Each category offers the following cash prizes:
1st Place: R1,000
2nd Place: R500
3rd Place: R300
10 Merit Awards: R200
5 Rising Star Awards: R100
2 GCBR design awards: R3,500
5 Hessequa design awards: R550
Inheems Art Festival
All entries that reflect the spirit of Inheems and celebrate our region’s natural and cultural heritage will be exhibited at a two-day Art Exhibition at the Riversdale Civic Centre, on 28 – 29 August 2026.
Get Inspired
Take a look at previous year’s amazing entries and see the creativity that emerged from Hessequa teens:
Unleash your creativity, celebrate Hessequa’s biodiversity and be part of something extraordinary.
