Media Release
For Immediate Release 13 June 2023
The Arts & Culture Trust announces the mentors for its ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme
For the 2023 edition of the Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP), the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) received 80 applications for the following four short-term positions:
- Visual and digital arts mentor
- Performing arts assistant mentor
- Artistic director
- Stage manager
After weeks of interviews ACT is pleased to announce the following two mentors:
Fleur De Bondt – Visual and Digital Arts Mentor
Megan Carelse – Performing Arts Assistant Mentor
The ACT NSP artistic director and stage manager will be announced in due course.
In 2022 Fleur De Bondt coordinated VANSA’s Cultural Leadership Programme and acted as project manager for Carling Black Label’s #NoExcuse Art Against Abuse campaign. She has extensive experience in the art community and currently runs her own artist community project, Facture Sessions, where artists who work in isolation could come together and receive free weekly workshops on professional practice.
Megan Carelse is a well-known musical theatre performer, singer, dancer, model, producer, director, teacher and television actress.
De Bondt and Carelse will be joined by seasoned musical theatre actress, singer and dancer Samantha Peo, who makes her return to the programme as Head Performing Arts Mentor, working closely with Carelse to support the roll-out of the performing arts training component.
‘We are thrilled to welcome Fleur and Megan to the ACT NSP,’ says ACT CEO Jessica Denyschen. ‘We look forward to working with them as they impart valuable industry knowledge, theoretical instruction, practical skills and techniques to our participants. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in their particular areas of expertise and we value the important roles they will play in contributing to the success of the programme. The impact they will have as they educate and uplift the ACT NSP participants will bring our 2023 Nyoloha theme, ‘ImpACTing Futures’ to life.’
The ACT NSP is an undergraduate scholarship programme aimed at providing opportunities for qualifying school-leavers to pursue a tertiary qualification in the visual and performing arts. Run in partnership with Nedbank and Sun International, as well as Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), the ACT NSP 2023 joint initiative creates an opportunity to fund higher education for young South African performing artists as well as visual and digital artists. One successful applicant in each category will receive a fully paid undergraduate scholarship valued up to R350 000 to study at an accredited tertiary South African arts institution of their choice.
The theme for the 2023 ACT NSP is ‘ImpACTing Futures’. This theme aims to propel the significant responsibility and collaborative role that the ACT and its partners, including Nedbank, Sun International and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), play in shaping the futures of South African youth positively by encouraging them to be proactive agents of a digital, innovative and sustainable future through art.
From 10 June to 19 August 2023, during the bi-weekly Saturday workshops, participants are encouraged to explore activities centred around the 2023 theme, which will be facilitated by the mentors and artistic director. Every month the mentors will evaluate certain tasks. Then the finalists will be selected to participate in a final week of intense training, talks and rehearsals, which will culminate in a showcase and exhibition in Johannesburg on 7 October 2023.
Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Group Sponsorships and Cause Marketing at Nedbank, says: ‘The ACT NSP’s theme of “ImpACTing Futures” sums up what we set out to achieve in growing the pipeline of our country’s upcoming artists. In all areas of the arts – visual and digital arts, dance, drama, music, singing and performance – up to 67 young artists will be part of the mentorship programme. They will receive life-changing professional training to help them excel in their artform and to prepare them for the world of work. Self-development, people management, entrepreneurship, marketing and communication skills are all part of the mentorship, as the goal of the programme is to help our young artists to achieve successful and sustainable careers.’
Heidi Edson, Group Socioeconomic Development (SED) Specialist at Sun International, says: ‘Through the ACT NSP, talented and ambitious young people from across the country are introduced to the world of professional arts as they are taken through a professional mentorship. It is the involvement of partnerships with the ACT, Nedbank and industry experts such as Samantha Peo, Fleur De Bondt and Megan Carelse at the grassroots level that resonates with the programme theme of “ImpACTing Futures” and the Sun International ethos to uplift, educate and grow talent and skills of young people from across South Africa.’
Let’s keep #ImpACTingFutures for tomorrow! To keep in touch with the ACT, visit their website, follow them on Twitter, or like their Facebook page. ENDS
#ACTnyoloha #ImpACTingFutures #ACTSAtalent #Nedbank #NedbankArts #SunInternational #BIZARTZA #actstrat
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SUBMITTED BY: Debra de Souza, debranne@icon.co.za, WhatsApp calls only: 082 822 9478.
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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 the 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 SOUTH AFRICA (BASA)
BUSINESS AND ARTS SOUTH AFRICA NPC (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, BASA is registered as a public benefit organisation. BASA champions business investment within the arts, cultural and heritage sector, driving focused and sustained partnerships by unlocking shared value and fostering social cohesion. For more information, please go to www.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 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. MVG guests are rewarded with exclusive offers and preferential rates through the Most Valued Guest loyalty programme, designed exclusively for Sun International gaming patrons.
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.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, a comprehensive Covid-19 policy and health plan were 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.
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Bio: Samatha Peo, Head Performing Arts Mentor
Samantha Peo is an established musical- and corporate theatre entertainer in South Africa, with more than 30 years’ experience. She has appeared in all the major theatres across South Africa, worked with outstanding local and international directors, and won numerous prestigious theatrical awards. Most recently, she joined the world tour of ‘Chicago: The Musical,’ playing the leading role of Velma Kelly, which toured South Africa, China, New Zealand, Germany and Austria from 2018 to 2022, for which she received a Naledi Theatre Awards nomination.
Bio: Megan Carelse, Performing Arts Mentor
Kimberley Megan Carelse celebrates her 16th year in the entertainment industry this year as a singer, songwriter, actor, presenter, dancer, model, producer, director and teacher.
An ocuplet threat, Megan has a degree in musical theatre (cum laude) from Tshwane University of Technology. She has sung and danced her way through iconic musicals such as Hair, Rent, We Will Rock You!, Aspects of Love, Evita, and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Megan made the transition from theatre to film with ease as Stacy in Rhythm City, Tessa Ford in Cambion Chronicles, Roxy in Magic Moves, Cindy in Shadow on Netflix, the siren in Die Kuur and most recently Mai Jayden in Working Wives, which is now available on Showmax. Megan has also played a number of roles as a lawyer in the past two years; credits include Gillian Doherty on Gomora, Erica September on The Estate and another lawyer in the ETV VOD movie Is’Phindiselo.
She has also been featured in advertising campaigns for Bio Oil, LG Crystal, Movida Corona, MTV, Absa, kykNet, Accident Angels, The Bachelor, Nan Milk, Bio Plus, Westpack and most recently Oreo and Clientele.
In 2015 Megan had the privilege of working with Disney UK/SA and Urban Brew as the choreographer and vocal coach on the hugely popular I Love Violetta television show.
Megan has also had success in the indie music scene with her singles I Got It, Unfaithful, Tastes Like Candy, What You Waiting For, and Dog Days.
In 2017 Megan worked with Silas James, Juan Enslin and SAMA award-winning producer Marius Brouwer to find her new sound, which is a country–pop fusion. She has had success on international and local radio stations with her singles Home, My Gravity, Make You Happy and Small Town Girl.
Her single Home has been playlisted by Hot 91.9, Mix FM, Gay SA radio and Zone Radio in Cape Town. Home climbed to number three on the Zone Radio Top 40. Megan was also featured as the SA artist of the week on the same radio station on 25 September 2018. Furthermore, Home has been playlsited and featured on a few international radio stations as well, including Twin Syndicate (USA), DJ Struth Mate (Australia) and Radio WIGWAM (UK). In fact, Radio WIGWAM supported most of Megan’s singles by playlisting My Gravity and Small Town Girl, which led to an international nomination for Best Female Artist in the Radio WIGWAM (UK) online radio awards. My Gravity has also been playlisted on Zone Radio and Mix FM and was also featured at number 5 on Niki Tyler’s Unsigned Pop Show on EGH RADIO in the UK during September 2018.
Currently, Megan is working on her first full album with her co-collaborator Dirk Klut.
During the Covid-19 pandemic Megan found purpose as a producer, director, performer and co-chairperson of Waiting in the Wings SA. Megan and Owen Lonzar raised funds to provide food vouchers for struggling artists seeking relief. They produced three successful online shows, Waiting in the Wings SA, Open spaces and Come fly with us. They managed to remunerate and feed artists.
Come Fly With Us recently received acknowledgement from the industry it was dedicated to in the form of a Naledi Theatre Award nomination for Best Online Production.
Megan has not lost momentum since the hard lockdown was first announced: She now runs her own production company, Megan Carelse Productions, procuring work for artists and curating acts for Live on the Piazza at Eastgate Shopping Centre. Since inception Megan has hired over 300 artists at this venue.
Megan was a live performance lecturer at AFDA during 2022.
Currently, Megan plays Karen Blignaut on the latest Afrikaans VOD film Yolanda is Swanger and Detective Charmaine Williams in Generations: The Legacy.
Bio: Fleur De Bondt, Visual and Digital Arts Mentor
Fleur de Bondt (born in 1989) sees herself as a verb. Her personal artistic practice focuses on creating alternative methods for printmaking, mixed media and painting. Her work is inspired by themes of memory and the human condition. Fleur has extensive experience in the art community, notably having worked as the programme manager for RMB Talent Unlocked for several years. She also runs her own artist community project, Facture Sessions, where artists who work in isolation could come together and receive free weekly workshops on professional practice. In 2022 she coordinated VANSA’s Cultural Leadership Programme and acted as project manager for the Carling Black Label #NoExcuse Art Against Abuse campaign. She is passionate about creating a space where artists can facilitate their own growth.