Fancy a six-month sojourn in France at the Cité des Arts, the artist colony located in the heart of Paris? This and R60,000 spending money will be awarded to the artist who submits the winning work for this year's Atelier art competition, which is sponsored by Absa. Each of the four runners-up will receive R10,000.

The national competition is open to artists between the ages of 21 and 35. Entries will be received at Sanava (South African National Association for the Visual Arts) offices and selected venues around the country from March 5 to 9. In KZN, this is the Technikon Natal Gallery, Berea Campus, 1st Floor, Library Block, 51, Mansfield Road. Phone (031) 204-2207.

Billed as the premier art competition in the country with the highest value in prize money, Atelier consistently attracts the cream of young South African talent every year. "Last year a large percentage of entries were submitted by Gauteng artists. I'd like to see more entries coming from the provinces," says Cecile Loedolff, Absa's Manager of art and functions.

Further details of the competition and entry forms available from branches of SANAVA (South African National Association for the Visual Arts), universities, technikons, galleries and museums nationwide or by calling Absa on (011) 350-5793 or Sanava on (012) 328-7109.