Two ACT |
DALRO | Nedbank Performing Arts Scholarships to the value of R105,000 each have
been awarded to Amanda Kunene from KZN and Chantel Evans from Gauteng.
The
Scholarships Programme, launched in 2009, has awarded a total of six
Scholarships to the value of R630,000. Auditions for the programme, which
started in June, were held in Durban as well as in Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth,
Cape Town and Johannesburg. Participants
were required to demonstrate competence in acting, singing and dancing with
exceptional talent in at least one of the disciplines. The winners can attend
any accredited South African tertiary institution of their choice.
Funded by
the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO) and Nedbank
Arts Affinity, the Scholarships Programme offers aspirant young performers in
grade 12 an opportunity to contend for one of two performing arts scholarships.
Individuals under the age of 25, who are not considered to be professional and
who are not registered for a degree in performance at the time of registering
to participate, are also eligible.
“Our
engagements with DALRO and Nedbank Arts Affinity go far beyond a sponsorship.
We are truly privileged to be working with partners that share our vision,
passion and commitment,” said Chief Executive Officer of the Arts & Culture
Trust (ACT), Pieter Jacobs.
Maseda
Ratshikuni, Head of Cause Marketing at Nedbank says that the funding of the programme
is one way in which Nedbank and its Arts Affinity clients make a contribution
to developing artistic talent in South Africa. “The more clients use their Arts
Affinity accounts, the more funds are contributed to developing arts and
culture in South Africa through the Arts & Culture Trust – at no cost to
the client,” he adds. He also announced that, courtesy of Nedbank and DALRO,
each finalist receives a Nedbank Arts Affinity Investment account to the value
of R5,000.
Nothando
Migogo, DALRO’s Managing Director, praised the finalists for their splendid and
brave efforts. “Know that to us, you have all already won, being selected from
hundreds of contenders across the country is a great achievement,” she said.
“This is
testament that one should never give up on your dreams,” said Amanda Kunene
after receiving the Scholarship. After completing her secondary education at
Danville Park Girls High School in Durban, she plans to acquire an acting
degree. Chantel Evans said that she could now finally pursue her dreams of
becoming a musical theatre performer.
The event
was hosted by new partner of the Scholarships Programme, UJ Arts & Culture
in the Arts Centre Theatre and is supported by Sleepy Gecko Guesthouse,
Classicfeel Magazine, Pink Room Productions and Talent Etc.