ArtCaffe announces new prizes for winners after outrage

City Restaurant ArtCaffe on Wednesday announced their new prizes for winners of the #ARTofthecity after public outrage. Initially, the restaurant had advertised the competition that would give Kenyan creatives a chance to showcase their work and receive free coffee.

Netizens took to Twitter and criticized the restaurant for exploiting Kenyan creatives with most arguing that exposure does not pay bills.

One user Peter Oketch said, “So how many exposures and cups of coffee does the Marketing Manager get paid? Or you dear Social Media Manager… Do u get paid in coffee cups? The artists won’t feed on exposure… It is all noble and commendable what you are trying to do… But pay the artists the equivalent of those cups of coffee…Good, no great idea… Poorly executed.”

His sentiments were echoed by Francis Macharia who said, “Why is there an emphasis on the free coffee which is redeemable. You are basically paying artists in coffee all in the name of exposure. As if 2020 isn’t hard enough. Withdraw all supposed prizes because defending it doesn’t make it any better.”

ALSO READ: ‘Exposure’ is refusing to buy art — Wambui Collymore

In the new guidelines, however, the winner will receive the following;

1. A paid internship with the Artcaffe Design Team for 2 months
2. 100,000 Ksh cash prize OR free daily coffee for a year at the artist’s choice
3. Exhibit and sell your art in one of our restaurants for 2 months
4. An artists profile on our website and posts on all social media platforms
5. Your unique artwork and your name will be the printed design on our take-away cups

The best runner up will get;

1. 50,000 Ksh cash prize OR free daily coffee for 6 months at the artist’s choice
2. An artists profile on our website and posts on all social media platforms
3. Your unique artwork and your name will be the printed design on our take-away cups

Lastly, the second runner up will receive;

1. 30,000 Ksh cash prize OR free daily coffee for 3 months at the artist’s choice
2. An artists profile on our website and posts on all social media platforms
3. Your unique artwork and your name will be the printed design on our take-away cups