The countdown has begun! The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT)
Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP) is entering its second last showcase, with
anticipation building for the upcoming ACT Nyoloha Gala Showcase (performing
arts showcase) and Visual Arts Exhibition.
This year, ACT is pleased to partner with Sun International to host the gala showcase at the esteemed Mardi Gras Theatre at Carnival City on September 28, 2024. At this event, two promising young artists – one from the performing arts and one from the visual arts – will be awarded life-changing scholarships valued at R300,000 each to study at a South African arts institution of their choice.
Since June 2024, at the start of the NSP, 111 selected participants from all nine provinces of South Africa have been engaged in rigorous fortnightly training and mentorship sessions under the guidance of distinguished mentors. The NSP visual arts participants have refined their talents under the mentorship of fine arts graduate, curator, and art dealer, Zanele Mashumi. The performing arts participants have been guided by seasoned actor and musical theatre practitioner, Grant Towers, as well as a seasoned musical theatre actress, singer and dancer, Samantha Peo, who serves as NSP Head Performing Arts Mentor.
From the initial 111 participants, only 15 finalists will be chosen to showcase their talents at the Nyoloha finals. This selection will culminate in what is called the Nyoloha Finals Week, where these young artists from all parts of South Africa will travel to Johannesburg for an all-expenses-paid experience. During this week, the finalists will engage in masterclasses, tour prominent art institutions, and seize networking opportunities with industry professionals, preparing them for the visual arts exhibition and gala showcase.
Leading up to the gala showcase, ACT, in collaboration with MTN South Africa, will also present a visual arts exhibition at the MTN Head Office in Fairlands, Johannesburg. The exhibition will open on September 26, 2024, with a private event, whereafter the exhibition will open to the public, offering an opportunity to engage with the work of emerging visual artists and support the next generation of South African talent.
Jessica Denyschen, CEO of ACT, commented: “The Nyoloha Scholarship Programme has been a significant platform for young artists to develop and showcase their skills. Over the years, the programme has nurtured some of the country’s finest talents, including Candice Modiselle, Wonder Ndlovu, Dillon Windvogel, Rick Baloyi, Tankiso Mamabolo, Lwazilubanzi Mthembu and Pallance Dladla, to name a few. We are excited to see the culmination of this year’s cohorts’ hard work and look forward to celebrating their achievements at the gala showcase and visual arts exhibition.”
Niel Nortjé, Manager of the MTN Art Collection, says: 'We are proud of the finalists, and heartily congratulate them. Hosting the NSP’s Visual Arts Exhibition at the MTN Head Office allows employees, clients and stakeholders to engage not only with the emerging young talent but also to buy their work and support the organisation’s strategic objective to participate in the socio-economic development of our disenfranchised youth. We wish all the finalists the very best!'
Poovi Pillay, Executive Head of Corporate Social Investment at Nedbank, commented: “This is such an exciting, tense time of the year as we sprint towards the final event on September 28 and the highly anticipated gala showcase. I want to emphasise that while there are ultimately 15 finalists and two scholarship winners, all 111 participants in this year’s ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme have excelled and grown remarkably over the past few months of mentorship. You are our future rising stars, and we look forward to seeing you pursue your ambitions, dreams and careers.”
Heidi Edson, Group Socioeconomic Development (SED) Specialist at Sun International, says: “Sun International is thrilled to support the empowerment of young artists who represent the future of South Africa's cultural and creative industry. We are especially delighted to host this year’s gala showcase at Carnival City, one of Sun International’s reputable venues for hosting the country’s biggest live events, which promises to be a dazzling evening.”
The event will be hosted by a popular South African actress and will feature guest performances by a well-known South African musician, both of whom will be revealed soon.
Tickets for the ACT Nyoloha Gala Showcase at Carnival City are available via Quicket from R100. Click here to buy your ticket now!: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/275758-2024-act-nyoloha-gala-showcase?preview=t#/
Over 30 years of arts support – Arts & Culture Trust
ACT is South Africa’s premier independent arts development
and investment organisation. Its focus is to increase the capacity for arts and
culture initiatives to create sustainable futures through development and
investment in innovative, sustainable projects that make a meaningful
contribution to society. Through structured development programmes, ACT
provides support to all expressions of arts and culture, including literature,
music, visual art, theatre and dance, and the support extends to festivals,
community arts initiatives, management, education as well as administration.
For more information, visit the ACT website, follow them on X or like their
Facebook page.
About Nedbank
In partnership with ACT, the Nedbank Arts Affinity has
donated more than R28 million to support over 830 arts, culture and heritage
development projects countrywide. If you want to make a difference to the lives
of talented young artists in South Africa, simply link your Nedbank Greenbacks
to the Arts Affinity and Nedbank will donate money to ACT – at no cost to you.
The Arts Affinity currently supports the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme, the
ACT Thuthukisani Programme and the ACT Tlholo Project. For more information,
download the Nedbank Money app, visit any Nedbank branch, call us on 0860 555
111 or visit nedbankarts.co.za.
About Business and
Arts and South Africa
BASA was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative between
government and the private sector as part of a strategy to secure greater
involvement in the arts and from businesses operating in South Africa.
Constituted in terms of the Companies Act, 71 of 2008, BASA is registered as a
public benefit organisation. BASA champions business investment within the arts
and cultural and heritage sector, driving focused and sustained partnerships by
unlocking shared value and fostering social cohesion. For more information, go
to basa.co.za.
About Sun
International
The Sun International brand has a proud legacy in the
gaming, hospitality, conferencing, leisure and entertainment sectors. Sun
International’s iconic properties, such as the world-famous Palace of The Lost
City Hotel at Sun City and the magnificent Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town –
situated on the water’s edge of the V&A Waterfront, have become synonymous
with luxury, comfort and outstanding service, firmly establishing the group’s
position as an internationally recognised premium brand.
Sun International's diverse South African property portfolio includes 15 hotels, two premier resorts and 11 well-located casinos – all of which offer modern, fully-equipped conferencing and banqueting facilities, while the Sun Vacation Club at Sun City is now a leading timeshare model in the country.
The group is also a local industry leader in online gaming, offering the latest global technology in betting. Through its SunBet platform, Sun International also offers the most innovative and exciting online betting experience available.
The group has also set the standard for hosting events, and their world-class arenas remain the preferred venues for international events and shows. The three championship golf courses at the Sun City and Wild Coast Sun resorts regularly host large-scale golfing tournaments, including the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, which is now part of the European Tour.
Whatever the activity, all Sun International's properties and facilities offer a quality experience supported by authentic personal service. Most Valued Guests (MVG) are rewarded with exclusive offers and preferential rates through the MVG loyalty programme, designed exclusively for Sun International gaming patrons.
Sun International’s MVG programme celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024, making it the oldest loyalty programme in the country. In February 2021, Sun International joined the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands and operator of an award-winning, multi-brand loyalty programme called 'Discovery'. Through GHA, Sun International can now participate in a network with 17 million members that operate in 85 countries.
Sustainability and community involvement form an integral part of the group’s corporate culture. Through collaborative partnerships with government and local business, Sun International’s SED and environmental initiatives ensure scarce environmental resources are never wasted, and the group is committed to providing ongoing and meaningful support to vulnerable communities throughout South Africa.
About MTN South
Africa
Launched in 1994, MTN South Africa is a subsidiary of MTN
Group, a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the
delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers. “We are inspired by our
belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. The MTN
Group is listed on the JSE in South Africa under the share code ‘MTN’. Our
strategy is ‘Ambition 2025: Leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.”