Artists honoured at 2011 WOORDtroFEES
March 15, 2011 
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The well known author, Elsa Joubert, was named Word artist 2011 at the second WOORDtroFEES function held at Spier Wine Estate on Sunday afternoon. She received this award for the second volume of her biography, Reisiger, that was recently published by Tafelberg.
The writer Elsa Joubert with Prof Dorothea van Zyl at the 2011 WOORDtroFEES.
The WOORDtroFEES is the awards given to artists and performers who bring outstanding productions and works of art to the Wordfest.
The Best Drama went to Oom Anton by die see, a comedy about the earlier days of theatre. Juanita Swanepoel, who directed the play, was very emotional and dedicated the award to all the actors who worked long hours to make this production a success.
In the category for outstanding art exhibition the prize went Kyk hoe lyk ons nou – a project in which the Breytenbach-centre asked people from the Wellington area to paint self portraits.
The award for Best Contemporary music production went to Karen Zoid, Nick Turner and Zinkplaat. Karen was also the guest artist at the WOORDtroFEES and entertained guests with one of the songs from her latest album, Terms and Conditions, called Retail Therapy. Boegoe van die liefde, compositions of Hans du Plessis’ popular Griekwa poems, received an honorary mention in this category.
The prize for best classical music production went to Witlig with Nicole Holm, Niël Rademan and Minette du Toit-Pearce.
A scene from Oom Anton by die see, which won best drama production.
Singer and songwriter, Valiant Swart, also received an honorary mention in the category for best debut texts for his book, Toorwoorde. The winner in this category was Deborah Steinmair for her much talked about novel, Marike se laaste dans.
Joan Hambidge received the award for Woordkunstenaar Runner up for 2011 for Reisiger na elders.
A special mention was made of Dan Sleigh for his novel Navigator van die Geskiedenis.
The Words Open Worlds (WOW) project, the Wordfests empowerment profjett, also made two awards. This project focuses on the promotion of reading and the arts as effective reading skills lies at the heart of learning.
This year the award for WOW school went to Schoonspruit Senior Secondary for their contribution to the promotion of Afrikaans.
The WOW individual prize for exceptional contribution to the promotion of Afrikaans went to Ruth Morgan from Groendal Secondary School in Franschoek.
Aan al ons kollegas wat die US Woordfees so uitstekend ondersteun het vanjaar, hetsy deur deelname of bywoning, asook aan die uitstekende bemarkingspan wat vanjaar op talle maniere berig het oor die fees, ons hartlike dank. Wêreldwyd is dit veral kunstefeeste gekoppel aan universiteite wat op die lang termyn lewenskragtig is. Dankie dus vir die besondere kwaliteite wat ons kollegas toevoeg tot die US Woordfees.