FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 25 July 2023
The Arts & Culture Trust announces qualifying participants for the annual ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme, proudly supported by Nedbank and Sun International.
The 2023 Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP) is a partnership between ACT, the Nedbank Arts Affinity and sponsors Sun International and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) offering matriculants, school-leavers and budding arts practitioners the opportunity to win a fully paid undergraduate scholarship to study at a South African arts institution of their choice in 2024. Following the open call announcement earlier this year and the growing popularity of the ACT NSP, the closing date was extended resulting in a total of 158 applications from candidates across South Africa.
Shortlisted applicants participated in an online audition and subsequent interview phase that started on 15 May and concluded on 2 June 2023. The qualifying applicants in each of the arts disciplines are as follows:
Participants selected for performing arts: Alicia Abrahams (Western Cape), Anastacia Pharo (Western Cape), Andile Mkhomazi (Mpumalanga), Asiphumeze Stuurman (Western Cape), Balungile Buthelezi (KwaZulu-Natal), Bonoko Dineo Khoda (Gauteng), Buhle Ledwaba (Gauteng), Buhle Mazibuko (Gauteng), Dikgabiso Motsisi (Western Cape), Elam Ngxaki (Western Cape), Entle Nikani (Western Cape) Gugu Kunene (Gauteng), Jarka Kluson (Gauteng), Justine Kaba (Eastern Cape), Karabo Motseki (Eastern Cape), Kekeletso Setona (Gauteng), Khazimla Dalasile (Eastern Cape), Lebohang Matlakala (Free State), Lerato Motseki (Eastern Cape), Lindiwe Ngwenya (Gauteng), Lungile Faith Kgomo (Mpumalanga), Mahlatse Laka (Gauteng), Masego Pheto (North West), Morongwa Mable Mohale (Limpopo), Mthobisi Khanyile (Gauteng), Naledi Lebelo (Free State), Naledi Mazibuko (Gauteng), Nicole Retief (Western Cape), Nonjabulo kubheka (Gauteng), Nsizwazakithi Mvubelo (Gauteng), Ntombikayise Ndlovu (Gauteng), Onalena Modise (Northern Cape), Owam Stragom (Eastern Cape), Paballo Lynn Pule (North West), Rethabile Maluleka (Gauteng), Sakhe Ntanjana (Eastern Cape), Sfiso Mahlangu (Gauteng), Sheila Onnetse Balerileng (Gauteng), Siphosethu Mayekiso (Eastern Cape), Thamsanqa Zungu (Gauteng), Thato Mateisi (Eastern Cape), Thato Segodi (Gauteng), Thina Sinenjongo Dinakhwe (Gauteng), Thuto Motloung (Gauteng), Tintswalo Nobuhle Mahlakolisane (Gauteng), Trinity Thomas (Gauteng), and Tshepang Gaya (Northern Cape).
Participants selected for visual or digital arts: Andile Tetani (Eastern Cape), Azanda Nyangintsimbi (Gauteng), Elona Lebanesana (Northern Cape), Kgotso Matlaletsa (Gauteng), Lauren Wood (KwaZulu-Natal), Lwazi Ndlovu (Gauteng), Nkosinathi Mbuko (North West), Ongezwa Gqumo (Eastern Cape), Oratile Hamese (Gauteng), Rethabile Weevirs (North West), Saxon Welsh (KwaZulu-Natal) Siphephelo Dladla (Gauteng), Siphesihle Hlatshwayo (Gauteng), Thabang Makgakwe (Gauteng), Thapelo Makhanya (Gauteng), Themba Bene (Gauteng), Tholwana Mokone (Gauteng), Timothy Clayton (Western Cape), Tshegofatso Moropane (Limpopo).
The programme commenced on 10 June with bi-weekly online training running until mid-August 2023. All the artists who passed the audition round will receive three months of professional training and mentorship. Artists will be rated by their mentors monthly and those performing the best over this three-month period will qualify for one of the 15 finalist spots. An additional three wild cards will be selected at the end of the training in an effort to identify talent that grew over the training period.
Fleur de Bondt is the Visual and Digital Arts Mentor and Megan Carelse is the Performing Arts Assistant Mentor. They are 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 Megan Carelse to support the roll-out of the performing arts training component.
The finals week will be held from 2 October, culminating in an exhibition and showcase at a gala event on the 7 October 2023 when the winners of the performing arts category and visual or digital arts category will be announced. Each winner will receive a fully paid scholarship valued at up to R350 000 to study at an arts institution of their choice in South Africa.
The theme for the 2023 ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme 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 positively shaping the futures of South African youth by encouraging them to be proactive agents of a digital, innovative, and sustainable future through art.
‘In Sesotho, Nyoloha means ‘to rise’ and the ACT NSP is an integral part of the ACT strategy to educate, upskill and empower those wishing to make a career in the arts and culture sector to rise to the opportunity,’ says ACT CEO Jessica Denyschen. ‘The programme presents the professional world of the arts and culture sector to young artists and exposes them to various role players and enablers who could advance their trajectory. We are enormously encouraged by the number of artists participating this year and we are excited to see the incredible emerging talent of our country.’
Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Group Sponsorships and Cause Marketing at Nedbank, says: ‘The ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme significantly contributes to the sustainable development and growth of our arts and culture heritage. These shortlisted participants are our future rising stars who will advance and preserve our country’s history, present and future narrative through the arts. We believe in these artists and the mentorship programme will help them to pursue their ambitions, dreams, as well as careers.’
Heidi Edson, Group Socioeconomic Development (SED) Specialist at Sun International, says: ‘Sun International is delighted to be a part of the ACT NSP. We fully support the work that the Arts & Culture Trust is doing in impacting futures by providing a platform to educate and upskill young people in the arts and culture sector. The ACT NSP not only impacts futures – it also provides a vital opportunity to talented youth to learn from mentors who are experts in various artistic fields. The life lessons learnt through the ACT NSP are key to positively impacting the futures of all the participants.’
ACT, together with long-term partner Nedbank and returning partner Sun International and with Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), strongly believes in helping to build a better, more educated, 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.
#ImpACTingFutures #ACTnyoloha #ImpACTingfutures #ACTSAtalent #Nedbank #NedbankArts #SunInternational #BizArt #actstrat
ENDS
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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 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 and it 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 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.