Closing Date: May 13,
2015
Growth in applications reflects extensive reach of BASA
Supporting scheme.
The first round of BASA Supporting Grants for the 2015-2016
period saw an increase in applications from across South Africa, reflecting the
growing reach of this important incentive for business and arts partnerships.
‘We definitely saw a growth in the number of new applicants
and recipients and are excited to have them on board,” says Mandisa Tshiqi,
Business Services Officer at Business and Arts South Africa.
“Last year, one of BASA’s goals was to increase our
accessibility and the fact that we had a wider variety of organisations from
different parts of South Africa applying for grants is evidence that we had an
impact in that regard. A total number of 11 grants were approved by the Board
for this first tranche.
This round is supporting projects partnering with business
from Cape Town, Durban, Limpopo and other provinces.”
Unlike a conventional grant scheme, BASA Supporting Grant
scheme was created with the very specific goal of developing business
sponsorship of the arts. Grants are only awarded to add value to an already-existing
relationship between an arts project and a business (or several businesses).
The BASA Supporting Grants Scheme is available to both newcomer, emerging and
established arts projects and sponsors.
An example of a recipient that has worked with multiple
sponsors in making a successful BASA Supporting Grants application is the Box
Project, a visual art project overseen by Durban company Ilifindo. Starting on
May 1, 2015, and running for four months, the Box Project is a city
beautification project that uses electricity boxes to assist the city’s campaign
against vandalism and create a platform for young local artists to showcase
their talents. The Box Project is being supported by five sponsors - Red Bull
Holdings South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Plascon, Step Up, Converse and Tommy.
To apply for a BASA Supporting Grant, generously supported
by the Department of Arts and Culture, both the arts applicant and the sponsor
must complete the application forms, which are designed to encourage the two
partners to work together and identify areas of potential benefit. The forms
are available in English, isiZulu and seSotho. Applications must be made at
least 12 weeks before the start of a project.
Successful partnerships from 2014 are also encouraged to
enter the 18th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, partnered by Hollard.
The next closing date is 13 May 2015. For application forms
and guidelines log onto www.basa.co.za or
contact BASA on 011 447 2295 or email: tshepo@basa.co.za