(Gregory Maqoma of Vuyani
Dance Theatre in “Exit-Exist”)
The role that arts and culture plays in a society is often
underestimated, yet it brings a multitude of business and societal benefits.
For this reason, Nedbank has been an active supporter and
funder of the arts and culture heritage over the last two decades.
Benefits that result from the arts are not always measured
through conventional scientific methods. However, a study by Canadian
organisation Business for the Arts suggested that investment in the field helps
to promote regional development, enhance community development and plays an
active role in promoting new cultures to citizens, ultimately developing a more
cohesive society. The study also notes that a strong arts and culture industry
assists in attracting tourists, thereby boosting a number of other service-led
businesses.
“The Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) has contributed immensely
to the 20 years of democracy of South Africa by developing and preserving the
arts and cultural heritage of our country. During this period, over R20 million
has been disbursed to key projects, bursaries and scholarships,” says Maseda
Ratshikuni, Head of Cause Marketing at Nedbank.
He says that the Nedbank Arts Affinity Programme, which was
also established 20 years ago, has so far donated R15 million to ACT. The
programme includes a suite of investment and banking accounts, which when used
by a client, automatically results in Nedbank donating a sum of money to ACT at
no cost to the client. “The programme is an innovative way to fund South
African arts, culture and heritage, because it ensures that these important
projects have a continuous source of income for years to come.”
ACT has supported more than 800 developmental arts and
culture projects in South Africa, including the Artist Proof Studio in Newtown,
Johannesburg - an innovative community printmaking centre of excellence that
provides a professional studio, gallery and education projects. The Vuyani
Dance Theatre was created as a non-profit organisation 15 years ago and has
also been internationally acclaimed with shows in Paris, London, New York and
Singapore.
Ratshikuni says Nedbank has a strong focus on education as
part of its corporate social investment mandate, adding that the arts has a
crucial role to fill in nurturing the youth and improving educational
standards. Artist Mallika Sarabhai said: “Art is not the cherry on the cake, it
is the yeast’, and this holds particularly true in the arena of education,” he
adds. “A number of studies have shown an improvement in literacy when people
take part in drama, whilst structured music activities aids better performance
in maths and languages.”
In order to foster a sustainable future for arts and culture
development in South Africa, ACT made a number of bursaries available to
students from institutions such as the Durban Music School, Cape Town’s
Michaelis School of Art, and the Centre for Fine Art, Animation and Design in
Durban.
Since 2009, ACT, together with Nedbank and the Dramatic,
Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO), has awarded performing arts
scholarships to the value of almost R1 million, aimed at Grade 12 learners and
individuals younger than 25 years of age who are not yet registered for an
undergraduate degree or already a professional performing artist.
“The funding of music, dance and other arts and culture
projects is just one of the ways in which Nedbank contributes to the upliftment
of the communities in which we serve,” says Ratshikuni. “Nedbank will continue
on this richly rewarding journey together with the arts fraternity, as it
provides an illuminating mirror through which we as a society can reflect on
our past, stimulate dialogue about our present, and look forward to the future
together.”
For more information, visit www.nedbank.co.za/website/content/ArtsAffinities
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