Plus, the arts supplement of the Afrikaans daily Beeld, will award the Aartvark Prize for Innovative Work for the first time this year during the Aardklop Arts Festival which takes place from September 29 to October 3 in Potchefstroom.

''Beeld, founding sponsor of the Aardklop Arts Festival, has from the word go endorsed the philosophy of the festival committee that Aardklop should be a national festival existing independently and justifying its own productions,'' says Dirk Jordaan, editor of Plus. ''It was therefore good news that most of this year's main programme will consist of original work and that some of the biggest productions have even been commissioned by the festival management.

Any artist, production, exhibition or happening which forms part of this year's festival qualifies for the Aartvark Prize. Artists exhibiting and performing in the street stand just as good a chance to win than their more conventional counterparts. The prize will however not be awarded to a production or exhibition that has been seen on the circuit previously. In line with the emphasis on stimulating new work, Plus has approached the Witwatersrand Technikon to design and produce the trophy that will be presented to the winner.

For more information phone Dirk Jordaan on (011) 406-4741 or e-mail plus@beeld.com or Kobus Berger on (011) 406-4833. e-mail kburger@beeld.com.