ACT BENEFACTORS

At a recent meeting of the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Board, Chairperson Brenda Devar launched the ACT Benefactors Programme with a gift of R11,000.

“The ACT Benefactors Programme recognises the power in harnessing the good will of the ‘people’. We can all make a difference and, forgive the platitude, but every penny does count,” said Devar. She launched the Programme with a personal gift of R1,000 and as executor of her late husband’s estate – in the name of Siva Devar, she pledged a further R10,000. “In an environment intent on measuring everything in terms of returns - here is an opportunity to embrace altruism. This is an exchange where the return for Giving is the simple joy of knowing that you are doing something for the greater good and in that the return is unquantifiable and in deed on-going,” she added.

The Benefactors Programme makes it possible for individuals to make a difference by giving today for a creative tomorrow.

“We cannot underestimate the power of seemingly small amounts of money. Without the cent you don’t have the rand - without the rand you don’t have the thousand or the million rand. ‘See a penny, pick it up’ is this philosophy that we will harness in ‘The Benefactors’, which I am proud to launch here today,” said Devar. “I invite, rather than challenge, my fellow trustees past and present and all arts lovers to become Benefactors. Every contribution will make a difference to ACT’s growth and ultimately to the growth of South African arts and culture,” she said.

Give any once-off amount or become a Benefactor by making a R1,000 donation. Every year ACT will acknowledge Benefactors by publishing their names in the ACT annual report. You can also purchase a donation on behalf of someone else as a gift.

ACT has a proud track-record of playing a strategic role in the arts and culture sector consistently for seventeen years. Over this time ACT has evolved into a dynamic organisation which continuously pioneers and executes with excellence in supporting creativity for the benefit of all South Africans.

The primary aim of ACT is to increase the amount of funding available for arts and culture initiatives, and to apply these funds to innovative, sustainable projects that make a meaningful contribution to society. ACT funds are allocated to projects by an independent Board of Trustees, which comprises leading arts practitioners and administrators. Since 1994 ACT supported more than 700 projects with more than R17 million.

ACT provides funding for all expressions of arts and culture, including literature, music, visual art, theatre and dance, and the support extends to festivals, community arts initiatives, arts management, arts education and arts administration. It embraces all aspects of arts and culture advancement such as training, the creative process, and the development of sustainable infrastructures.

Give today for a creative tomorrow by making a donation to ACT. Follow this link to make a contribution www.act.org.za/programmes_benefactors.htm More information from the ACT office on 011 712 8403 or send an e-mail admin@act.org.za