(Thuthukisani is a call to action taken from the Zulu word thuthukisa (verb) meaning develop.)
The Arts & Culture Trust's (ACT) Thuthukisani Programme, supported by Nedbank, was created to invest in a select group of registered businesses and practitioners in the arts industry from nine provinces, rolled out in three cycles, to help applicants implement and execute their chosen projects in a strategic and sustainable way, with the goal to deliver income-generating and profitable products in 90 days.
Cycle 1 included North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
Cycle 2 included the Eastern Cape, the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Applications opened on April 25, 2022, and just over 50 arts entrepreneurs from across these three provinces vied for a spot on the programme.
Cycle 3 will focus on the remaining provinces and applications will open later this year.
The programme is designed to take 63
successful applicants from across South Africa on a holistic journey to empower
them through training and professionalisation.
The roll-out takes place in three cycles, inviting applications from three provinces per cycle, with seven selected participants per province. After thorough training and mentorship, the participants must pitch their projects for the opportunity to receive monetary investment. Three projects per province could each receive cash investments and ongoing mentorship throughout the implementation of their projects.
ACT Interim CEO, Jessica Denyschen, says: “As one of ACT’s new strategic programmes, Thuthukisani has taught us many constructive lessons in the first cycle of the roll-out. We are building a relevant, compelling and contextually rich programme that will propel arts businesses into a sustainability mindset and stimulate a boost in their profitability through investing in selected projects. The rapidly changing economic context requires artists and arts organisations to remain agile and open to adapting. Innovation and working hard are at the order of the day and the ACT Thuthukisani Programme demands this from the participants.
“There is a lot of repair work to be done in the arts sector, and the focus will be on economic sustainability and, eventually, economic growth needs. Former president Nelson Mandela, once said that it always seems impossible until it’s done. The arts sector is known for making the impossible possible, and with support, vision and focus we can support artists to achieve sustainable livelihoods.”
Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Group Sponsorships and Cause Marketing at Nedbank, says: “People in the arts in every part of South Africa must learn to run a business efficiently and make money in order to be sustainable and grow. Essential to this is training in business entrepreneurialism and arts administration, which is why ACT's new Thuthukisani Programme was developed. We are very excited to see how these projects progress.”
Successful applicants by province for
Thuthukisani Cycle 2
KwaZulu-Natal
Qiqa Makholosa – Bhuda Q (Pty) Ltd
Sithembiso Gift Mbatha – Youth Access
Angela Shaw – KZNSA Gallery
Fuzile Macala – Trulife
Phumlani Wiseman Mkhize – Umkhubane
Performing Arts
Nerusha Sadapal – VNSA Solutions (Pty) Ltd
Vumani Mbili – Archrose Publishers
Eastern Cape
Colleen Mapatwana – Daughters of Integrity
Publishers & Distributors
Litha Mpiyakhe – Keinetik Media (Pty) Ltd
Ntlantla Sphosenkosi Yaze – Kanda Kul
Concepts (Pty) Ltd
Ntsikayomzi Benya – FreeUp Studios
Vuyiseka Maguga – Lovechild Music
Zinzi Gobala – Youth in Mining Clay and
Multipurpose
Velile Petshu – Butterworth TV
Northern Cape
Rapelang Gilbert Antony – Seodin Jazz &
Cultural Ensembled
Rodrick Kuthula Mavundla – Black Salt
Creative Company Project
Garnett Ludick – GLU Creations
Bridgette Thato Morwe – Late Bloomers
Creatives
Lindile Stenge – MindFlow
Abongile Aaron – Phanda Pozi (Pty) Ltd t/a Phanda
Pozi Media
Laycenther Mogale Sedibe – Mogale Sedibe
Pty
The programme takes these successful applicants on a clear, directed journey through entrepreneurial training, development and one-on-one mentorship. Participants must comply with the rules of the programme and attend all training and mentorship sessions. Throughout this process, projects that illustrate viability and merit will be selected for a monetary investment to roll out their project within 90 days.
Cycle 2 included Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Applications for Cycle 3 will open later this year. #ACTThuthukisani #actstrat #NedbankArtsAffinity.
To keep in touch with ACT, visit their website, follow them on Twitter or like their Facebook page.
To link direct to the Arts & Culture
Trust’s site, click on the ACT logo to the right of this article or visit http://www.act.org.za
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