FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 25 JANUARY 2023
The time is now for the Arts & Culture Trust’s Nyoloha Scholarship Programme open call
The positive impACT that art has in shaping futures can now be accessed through the Arts & Culture Trust Nyoloha Scholarship Programme open call. Participants stand the chance to win a fully paid undergraduate scholarship to study at an arts institution of your choice in South Africa.
The open call for the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP) 2023 is now open and will run until 10 March 2023. Applicants who wish to study towards a performing, visual or digital arts degree starting in the 2024 academic year must be between the ages of 17 to 25 years with a matric (university exemption), and not be currently registered at a tertiary or accredited institution. Apply today on the ACT website at www.act.org.za/nyoloha/.
The ACT NSP is a partnership between ACT and Nedbank Arts Affinity that is sponsored by Nedbank and Sun International. The 2023 programme includes a category for digital arts candidates, who should prepare to submit their portfolios comprising of four artworks, while candidates in the performing arts category should prepare to submit two audition videos fitting the criteria.
This joint initiative creates an opportunity to fund higher education for young South African performers and visual and digital artists. One successful applicant in each category, ie performing arts and visual or digital arts, will receive a fully paid scholarship valued at no more than R350 000 to study at a tertiary or accredited South African arts institution of their choice. To qualify for the scholarship, you must not be considered a professional artist and cannot already be registered and studying at a tertiary or accredited institution.
Parental or guardian consent and a registration fee of R100 are required when applying to audition for a spot on the premium 2023 programme. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for virtual interviews via Zoom at a date and time to be scheduled. The programme is comprised of online training and mentorship with industry experts. Participants are required to engage actively and participate in tasks, which will be evaluated monthly using a rating system to choose the 15 programme finalists who will compete in a final performance showcase and visual or digital arts exhibition where the winners in each of the two categories will be revealed. The 15 finalists will all come to Johannesburg for the final week training and gala preparation with ACT covering flights, ground travel, accommodation and catering.
‘Historically, the arts and culture sector has positively impacted the shaping of futures for so many, but where does talent go without knowledge or education?. Across various disciplines, the arts have nurtured and developed talent and have contributed significantly to job creation. A tertiary education exposes artists to a wide range of knowledge, resources and networks which greatly impacts the professional trajectory of a young artist.
The Trust together with our partners Nedbank and Sun International is committed to our newly introduced theme for this year ‘ImpACTing Futures,’ says ACT interim CEO, Jessica Denyschen. She added: ‘By positively impacting futures through programmes like the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme, we offer hope and opportunity through education while also giving young people the opportunity to become active economic contributors.’
Fortnightly activities for the ACT NSP will be managed by ACT-appointed mentors who will engage regularly with mentees and provide professional support. In the final week of each month, the work undertaken by the mentees will be rated as part of the shortlisting exercise. Students who don’t make the ratings will continue with the programme, but they will not be eligible for the finals. The final week will be comprised of masterclasses facilitated by industry leaders and will be attended by the 15 finalists, culminating in a gala function to announce the two winners of a fully paid scholarship to study at an arts institution of their choice in South Africa.
ACT, together with long-term partner Nedbank and returning partner Sun International, strongly believes in supporting and enabling a resilient, knowleageable, professional and sustainable arts industry in South Africa. The ACT NSP rewards commitment, excellence and growth potential. In addition to the scholarships, it also offers research grants and the creation of an alumni network.
Previous finalists and winners of the scholarship programme include notable names such as Tankiso Mamabolo (musician), Tshepang Dean (musician), Dillon Windvogel (actor on Blood & Water) Rick Baloyi (visual artist), Liam Rose (visual artist) and Marang Khwene (dancer) who are all making waves in the creative industries.
Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Group Sponsorships and Cause Marketing at Nedbank says: ‘Whether you are in the visual and digital arts, dance, drama, music, singing and performance, we encourage you to apply. In addition to giving yourself a chance at winning one of the scholarships, up to 75 applicants will receive life-changing professional training and mentorship to help them graduate as global citizens in the arts who not only excel in their artform but are also well prepared for the world of work. This includes self-development, people management, entrepreneurship, marketing and communication skills. The goal of the ACT Nyoloha scholarship programme is to help all of you to achieve a successful and sustainable career. ’As a key sponsor and founding member of ACT, Sun International is delighted to be part of the Nyoloha programme again this year and contributing towards ‘ImpACTing Futures’. Heidi Edson, Group Socio-Economic Development (SED) Manager at Sun International says: ‘Socio-economic development is an important pillar for Sun International and with it our commitment to the upliftment of youth through education. Sun International is a founding member of ACT, and we sponsor their projects on an annual basis. We fully support the growth and development of South Africans through ACT’s various programmes and initiatives.’
Apply today! Visit www.act.org.za/nyoloha and start positively impACTing your future! #ACTnyoloha #actstrat #ACTSAtalent #NedbankArtsAffinity.
ENDS
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SUBMITTED BY: Debra de Souza, debranne@icon.co.za, WhatsApp calls only: 0828229478
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Over 29 years of arts support – ARTS & CULTURE TRUST (ACT)
The 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, please visit the ACT website, follow them on Twitter or like their Facebook page.
About Nedbank
In partnership with ACT, the Nedbank Arts Affinity has donated more than R28 million over 28 years to support over 830 arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide. If you would like to make a difference in 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 Thuthukisani Programme and the ACT Tlholo Project. For more information, visit any Nedbank branch, call us on 0860 555 111 or visit nedbankarts.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 the local industry leader in online gaming. Thanks to the latest global technology, 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.
In February 2021, Sun International joined 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 socio-economic development 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.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, a comprehensive Covid-19 Policy and Health Plan was implemented across all business units to safeguard the safety of guests, staff and concessionaires. In November 2020, Sun International received an award from The Institute of Risk Management South Africa, in recognition of the extensive and world-standard Covid-19 controls introduced across all of our hotel and casino properties. Sun International is also a recipient of the World Travel and Tourism Council’s global Safe Travels Stamp of approval.