February 12, 2023, marked 26 years of
Business and Arts South Africa’s (BASA) work at the nexus of business and arts
partnerships.
The arts have the power to bring people together, to bridge differences, and to promote social cohesion. BASA believes that all South Africans should have equal access to the arts and the opportunities they provide. Since its founding in 1997, BASA has disbursed R43 million in Supporting Grant funding to 1,680 arts projects which leveraged R567 million from business. BASA has published nine issues of ArtsTrack, our research publication, supported 170 individual artists with relief grants during COVID-19, assisted local and national government with disbursing payments of over R50 million in relief funding to creatives. BASA’s development programmes have reached 3,000 individuals nationally and the annual BASA Awards have recognised 320 shining business and arts partnerships.
BASA has steadily worked towards shifting the paradigm for art funding by supporting the development of new business models for the arts sector. The traditional model of funding and support for the arts is rapidly changing, and new approaches are needed to ensure the sustainability of the sector. BASA has been working with government, businesses and cultural organisations to explore new and innovative ways of supporting the arts, including social enterprise and impact investment with programmes such as the longstanding DEBUT Programme (funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture) and the Cultural Producers Leadership Programme (funded by the British Council and partnered by Common Purpose South Africa).
BASA also provides support to emerging artists from under-represented communities and promotes initiatives that promote diversity and inclusiveness in the arts. To this end, BASA has partnered with the Industrial Development Corporation on a range of projects designed to facilitate the exposure of emerging artists and to support entrepreneurs in the creative economy. One such project is the IDC Gallery, which aids social and economic development programmes for youth, women and people living with disabilities.
Through its various initiatives, BASA is supporting artists, arts organisations, and the creative industries, helping them to thrive and reach new heights. BASA is of its time, but also an organisation in constant flow and regenesis, as we all walk forward, we walk with those who are on the path and call on others to join us. HERE’S TO THE JOURNEY AHEAD – TOGETHER. Plan your path HERE – https://basa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/YourBasa.pdf
To read more about the last 25 years of BASA visit the NEXUS Report – https://basa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NEXUS.pdf
VIDEO CREDITS: Visuals compiled by Jordan Hance featuring animation from Sounds of Hlakanyana by Madevu Entertainment | Music: RISE Remix | Artists: VUKA AFRIKA (Mohau Moahlali and Seren Ariana | Composer: Lynne Holmes | Producers: Lynne Holmes, Gresham Music, Ebrahim Mallum | Vocal recording: Rootspring Music | Final mix and master: Ebrahim Mallum Studios | Special thanks to Willem Groenewald, Charmaine Soobramoney, Yusuf Ganief and the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
For more information contact Sinenhlanhla Mdiya or email sinenhlanhla@basa.co.za or visit http://www.basa.co.za
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