Deadline: March 31, 2016
Arts and culture organisations, associations, cooperatives,
networks, individual artists and practitioners have until March 31 to submit
their funding applications to the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT).
The ACT Professional Development Programme, funded by the
Nedbank Arts Affinity, is designed to support the development of a reliable,
sustainable and vibrant arts and culture sector in South Africa. The programme
makes provision for support of activities that increase job opportunities and
develop sustainability.
“The outcomes of some of the projects the trust has recently
funded is testament to the fact that modest grants could have a significant
impact when allocated to the right kind of project. While it is common
knowledge that projects and organisations compete for a relatively small pool
of funds available for the development of arts and culture, the alignment of
goals and objectives is crucial. The trustees have been very successful in
handpicking those projects where our contributions could have the biggest
impact and we commend our beneficiaries for their accomplishments,” says Pieter
Jacobs, Chief Executive of the ACT.
Every time clients transact on their Arts Affinity accounts,
Nedbank makes a donation on their behalf to ACT, at no cost to the client.
These funds are disbursed through the trust’s Professional Development
Programme and often support artists and arts and culture organisations at a
time when they need it most.
Among the projects that received support in the previous
funding cycle is the uHlanga New Poets Series that supported the livelihood of
rural-based author, Thabo Jijana, whose collection of poetry was published with
an ACT grant. A publisher and distributor also benefited from the project,
which enriched the small local publishing industry. ACT and Nedbank invested in
the employability of three previously disadvantaged artists from the Northern
Cape by making funding available to the Garage Dance Project, which developed
their dancing, teaching and arts management skills. The Baxter Theatre’s
residency programme afforded two young artists an opportunity to hone their
writing and directing skills over a 12-month period, which enables them to seek
employment as professionals, or to create their own work. Development programme
support has also enabled the publication of arts journals, arts management
training and the development of new South African work.
Duncan Buwalda’s play Hinterland
also received support from the trust for its season at the Auto & General
Theatre on the Square last year which made it eligible for the Naledi Awards. The
production has received four nominations.
While eligible applications from different entities and all
regions of South Africa are accepted, applicants with organisations with
section 18A certification will be given preference, as well as applicants from
ACT’s list of underserviced areas including the Northern Cape, Free State,
KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
The current funding cycle closes on March 31, 2016, with
results announced in May, and the second funding cycle for 2016 will close on September
30, 2016, with results announced in November.
For more information and to submit an application visit http://www.act.org.za/programmes/development-grants.html
Posts
