The year 2020 marks the centenary of the first Emma Smith Scholarship. The scholarship was founded in 1920 by Sir Charles Smith, the KwaZulu-Natal Sugar Industry magnate, in memory of his mother and in appreciation of the work of visionary art school head, John Adams. Its original aim was to enable winners to study overseas, though recently it has been extended to allow other projects to be undertaken. In 1939 the scholarship of £250 was won by 19 year-old Nils Landmark Solberg, enabling him, after serving in the War, to study at The Regent Street Polytechnic in London. 

 

To celebrate these 100 years there will be an exhibition at Durban Art Gallery later in 2021, where artworks from past prizewinners will be on show. So by way of an appeal, if there is anyone in the Durban area who owns a piece by Nils Solberg, and is willing to loan it to the exhibition, please get in touch! You can make contact via the contact page, or email Anthony Starkey, the exhibition curator, directly on anthonyrolandstarkey@gmail.com. Thank you!