FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 11 April 2022

The Arts & Culture Trust announces successful candidates for Thuthukisani Programme cycle 3, proudly supported by Nedbank.

 

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is pleased to announce the successful candidates in the training section of the Thuthukisani Programme Cycle 3, which is for applicants from Gauteng, the Free State and Western Cape.

 

The roll-out of the programme takes place in three cycles and applicants from three predetermined provinces per cycle are invited to apply. Cycle 1, covering Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West has been completed and Cycle 2, covering the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal has also been finalised. Cycle 3 runs from 4 to 30 April.

 

From the 70 applications received, the following 20 are the successful candidates from the three provinces:

 

Free State

  • David William Roman (Ble3sid Productions)
  • Happy Nthabiseng Moloi (Bapala Creatives Arts and Services)
  • Kwena Peu (Ebang Productions (Pty) Ltd)
  • Lerato George Thulo (Ray Creek (Pty) Ltd)
  • Lerato Kleinbooi Mafohla (Bapala Creatives Arts and Services)
  • Thabo Joseph Mabaso (Me4uTalented Studios)
  • Thabo Pie (Artistry Archive (Pty) Ltd)

 

Gauteng

  • Hayleigh Evans (POPArt Studios (PTY) LTD)
  • Jefferson Tshabalala (Ub’Dope Shishini)
  • Nomusa Mdlalose (Nomusa Mdlalose Art)
  • Nonkululeko Khoza (Struggles Theatre Production)
  • Pulane Mpondo (Khachube Media)
  • Tshepo Pelesi (Leano Projectz)
  • Viwolwetu Kulati (Viwo Kulati Concepts (Pty) Ltd)

 

Western Cape

  • Benjamin Francis Andre de Kock (Concept Records),
  • Karen Schofield-Nel (KSN Vibrato Euphoria)
  • Kim Conley (Amoyo Performing Arts Foundation),
  • Mandisi Heshu (AmphiArts)
  • Nani Mntonintshi (BAZ-Art)
  • Siseko Mngxali (Naledi Foundation),

 

‘We are delighted by the response and congratulate the 20 applicants who qualified for Cycle 3. We are particularly encouraged by the scope of diverse arts-related businesses in this cycle and wish the applicants success in their endeavours. We hope to see them moving towards creating sustainable futures for themselves and, by doing so, also create opportunities to grow and develop the arts and culture sector,’ says Jessica Denyschen, ACT CEO.

 

The ACT Thuthukisani Programme is a business development programme designed to empower a select group of artists and creative entrepreneurs to implement and execute their chosen projects in a strategic and sustainable way.

 

The curriculum includes an introduction to entrepreneurial practice, asset-based community development, audience development, strategic marketing, project management as well as governance and financial management.

 

Once the training programme has been completed, participants will pitch their projects for the opportunity to receive a cash investment and one-on-one mentorship. Only projects with merit that can generate a real income will be eligible for potential investment. Initiated and managed by the ACT, the ACT Thuthukisani Programme is supported by Nedbank.

 

Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Group Sponsorships and Cause Marketing at Nedbank says:

 

‘The Nedbank Arts Affinity through the ACT has supported artists through many different projects over the years. But what we found is that, regardless of the artists’ and creative industry practitioners’ talents, if they don’t have the appropriate business and entrepreneurial skills, they too easily fall by the wayside or really struggle to make ends meet. The Thuthukisani Programme was designed specifically to address these issues, and we are excited to witness so many of the participants of the programme responding so positively to the mentorship and taking charge of their finances, talent and lives in a structured, sustainable way.’

 

To keep in touch with ACT, please visit their website, follow them on Twitter or like their Facebook page.

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Over 29 years of arts support

The ACT is South Africa’s premier independent development and arts investment organisation. The primary aim of ACT 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, arts management, arts education and arts 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 29 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 Nyoloha Scholarship Programme, 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.