FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 28 MARCH 2024
Arts & Culture Trust Nyoloha Scholarship Programme closes 5 April.
Young, talented and dedicated South African artists wishing to apply for a coveted spot in the 2024 Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP) are urgently reminded to apply now via the ACT website www.act.org.za/nyoloha before applications close on 5 April 2024.
If you are a singer, dancer, actor or visual or digital artist aged between 17 and 25 years and seeking to study at a tertiary arts institution in South Africa and receive discipline-focused training and mentorship, you are encouraged to apply.
The ACT NSP is a partnership between the ACT and the Nedbank Arts Affinity supported by Nedbank, Sun International, Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) and MTN Foundation SA. This joint initiative creates an opportunity for young performing and visual artists to receive professional arts training and/or scholarship funding for higher education.
The 2024 iteration of the ACT NSP will be fresh and unique, comprising 2 components: the first is the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme, an undergraduate programme for youth aged 17 to 25 years who are either currently in matric or already have a university exemption and are not already studying arts or practising professionally. The goal of this scholarship is to support individuals in obtaining their first qualification in the performing, visual or digital arts at a South African tertiary institution or an ACT-accredited institution. One successful applicant in each category, ie performing arts and visual or digital arts, will receive a scholarship valued at R300 000 to start their studies in the 2025 academic year. The second component is the ACT Nyoloha Training Programme – a development-focused opportunity designed to increase employability through the enhancement of sector-related knowledge and skills. Priority will be given to youth aged 17 to 25 years who do not wish to pursue a formal qualification in the performing or visual arts sector but are currently and actively pursuing careers in performing or visual arts disciplines.
It is important for applicants to note the specific requirements as detailed in the provided guidelines document. To apply for category 1 (visual and digital arts), candidates must prepare to submit portfolios. Applicants for category 2 (performing arts) must submit a 2-minute performance video within their specific discipline (ie singing, acting or dance).
This year’s scholarship programme has an intake of 80 participants and 15 participants for the training programme. ‘The response so far has been overwhelming,’ says ACT CEO Jessica Denyschen. ‘Since the Nyoloha Programme was relaunched, the number of applicants continues to more than double year on year. This is a clear indication of the enormous demand by young people for such programmes within the arts and culture industry. Together with our sponsors, ACT plays an important role in educating, growing, and developing tomorrow’s performers and visual artists for a sustainable arts industry.’
Poovi Pillay, Executive Head of Corporate Social Investment (CSI) at Nedbank, says: ‘Our artists are essential in helping us to reflect on ourselves, our society, and our world. South Africa has an abundance of young artists with wonderful intellectual capacity and potential. This scholarship programme significantly contributes to their growth and talent in the visual arts, digital arts, dance, drama, music, singing and performance. The programme includes professional training and mentorship for up to 80 selected artists in the buildup to the end of year finals. There are 2 scholarships to be won but the goal of the programme is to engage with all these young artists so that they can achieve a successful and sustainable career.’
‘Sun International is proud to work alongside ACT, Nedbank and MTN to positively contribute to a brighter tomorrow for the arts and culture sector,’ says Heidi Edson, Group Socioeconomic Development Specialist at Sun International. ‘We share a vision to enrich local talent by equipping artists from different arts and performance disciplines with skills to become proficient in their craft so that they may further their talents and expertise to become economically viable contributors to the economy.’
Hurry – visit www.act.org.za/nyoloha before 5 April 2024 to view the ACT NSP open-call details and start paving your way to a brighter future.
#ACTnyoloha #ACT30 #actstrat #ACTSAtalent #NedbankArtsAffinity #SupportWhatMatters
* Scholarship amount is dependent on the institution of choice and is limited to R300 000 per person. ENDS
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PRESS KIT LINK: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/2gy6eqf7wqko7gnuna5in/h?rlkey=htqk663nkwxp4lnacjq1mh4gg&dl=0
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SUBMITTED BY: Debra de Souza, debranne@icon.co.za, WhatsApp calls only: 0828229478.
EDITED BY: Arts & Culture Trust, info@act.org.za.
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Celebrating 30 years of Arts Excellence – Arts & Culture Trust
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is South Africa’s premier independent development and art 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.
Over the past 30 years ACT has supported more than 830 arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide, which include small businesses. For more information, please 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 R30 million over 30 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.
Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)
BASA was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative between the government and the private sector, as part of a strategy to secure greater involvement in the arts from businesses operating in South Africa. Established as a Section 21 company, BASA is constituted in terms of the Companies Act, and is registered as a public benefit organisation. It’s delisting as a Schedule 3 entity has seen Business and Arts South Africa NPC register for VAT. BASA is accountable to its stakeholders – the government, BASA members and the creative sector.
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, 2 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 3 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 the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands and operator of an award-winning, multibrand 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 socioeconomic development and environmental initiatives ensure that scarce environmental resources are never wasted; and the group is committed to providing ongoing and meaningful support to vulnerable communities throughout South Africa.
About the MTN SA Foundation
In 2001, MTN South Africa established the MTN SA Foundation as its CSI arm. Through the Foundation, MTN SA partners with communities, civil society, and other corporates in supporting development interventions in disadvantaged communities across South Africa. The mandate of the MTN SA Foundation is also informed by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Charter, which requires telecommunications companies to prioritise ICT led social investments.
To attain this goal, MTN SA Foundation harnesses its position as a corporate foundation to capitalise on strategic corporate resources like MTN’s extensive telecommunications infrastructure, brand image and reputation, along with the expertise and abilities of MTN employees, particularly empowering women through the implementation of ICT solutions.
The foundation’s strategy for ‘Ambition 2025: leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress’ is anchored in building the largest and most valuable business platform with a clear focus on Africa. This rests on a scale connectivity and infrastructure business – mobile and fixed access networks in the consumer, enterprise, and wholesale segments.
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