FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 26 September 2024
Arts & Culture Trust Announces 15 ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme Finalists, Proudly Supported by Sun International, Nedbank, MTN South Africa, and Business and Arts South Africa
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is thrilled to reveal the names of the 15 exceptional finalists who will compete in its annual ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP) final events. These prestigious events celebrate and support the talent of young visual and performing artists from across South Africa.
The ACT NSP is an annual partnership between ACT, the Nedbank Arts Affinity, and sponsors Sun International, Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) and MTN South Africa, offering matriculants, school-leavers, and emerging arts practitioners the opportunity to win a fully paid undergraduate scholarship valued at R300 000 to study at a South African arts institution of their choice.
This year’s programme saw 111 participants benefit nationally, with the programme having kicked off in June 2024 and running through mid-August 2024. Bi-weekly online professional training and mentorship was provided to performing artists (singers, dancers, and actors) as well as visual artists. The participants were rated monthly by their mentors, and those who excelled over the three-month period have now earned one of the 15 coveted finalist spots to get them one step closer to earning the fully paid scholarship. The finalists for each discipline are as follows:
Performing Arts Finalists:
- Zime Silinda (Gauteng)
- Mpumelelo Dlamini (Mpumalanga)
- Nosipho Thabede (KwaZulu-Natal)
- Tsholofelo Moeketsi (Gauteng)
- Silondokuhle Cebekhulu (Gauteng)
- Keakgantsa Ntuli (Gauteng)
- Kgabo Elizabeth Tauatsoala (Gauteng)
- Sinelizwi Miza (Eastern Cape)
- Nosipho Nhlapo (Gauteng)
- Ntokozo Malope (Gauteng)
Visual Arts Finalists:
- Neo Zacharia Folotsi (North-West)
- Amina Bux (Western Cape)
- Ayanda Dube (Gauteng)
- Phillipine Mokgadi Nkgudi (Gauteng)
- Bonolo Nyatshane (North-West)
The final week of the ACT NSP begins with the Visual Arts Exhibition at the MTN Headquarters in Fairland, Johannesburg, opening on 26 September 2024. The public is invited to visit the exhibition after the opening. This leads to the highly anticipated ACT Nyoloha Gala Showcase, featuring performances by the performing arts finalists, which will be held on 28 September 2024 at the Mardi Gras Theatre, Carnival City. At the Gala Showcase, two winners—one from the visual arts and one from the performing arts—will be awarded scholarships valued at R300 000 each.
“The ACT NSP is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of South Africa’s young, vibrant, artistic talents, whose ambition it is to build a career in the arts and culture sector,” says ACT CEO Jessica Denyschen. “We are excited to provide a platform for these emerging artists to showcase their craft, connect with industry leaders, and gain the exposure needed to launch their careers. We encourage the public to join us in celebrating these incredible talents, with tickets available from R100 to attend the ACT Nyoloha Gala Showcase on 28 September 2024.”
Poovi Pillay, Executive Head of Corporate Social Investment at Nedbank, commented: ‘This is such an exciting, tense time of the year as we sprint towards the final event on 28 September and the highly anticipated gala showcase. I want to emphasise that while there are ultimately 15 finalists and 2 scholarship winners, all 111 participants in this year’s ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme have excelled and grown remarkably over the past few months of mentorship. You are our future rising stars, and we look forward to seeing you pursue your ambitions, dreams and careers.’
Heidi Edson, Group Socioeconomic Development (SED) Specialist at Sun International, adds: ‘Sun International is proud to partner with the ACT NSP. We fully support the impactful work the Arts & Culture Trust is doing to pave the way for brighter futures by creating a platform for the education and skill development of young talents in the arts and culture sector.’
Niel Nortjé, Manager of the MTN Art Collection, says: ‘We are proud of the finalists, and heartily congratulate them. Hosting the NSP’s Visual Arts Exhibition at the MTN Head Office allows employees, clients and stakeholders to not only engage with the emerging young talent, but also to buy their work and support the organisation’s strategic objective to participate in the socio-economic development of our disenfranchised youth. We wish all the finalists the very best!’
ACT, together with long-term partners Nedbank and Sun International, and returning partners MTN South Africa and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), believes in contributing to a more educated, sustainable arts industry in South Africa.
Tickets for the ACT Nyoloha Gala Showcase at Carnival City are available via Quicket from R100. Click here to buy your ticket now!
#ACTNyoloha #NyolohaAfrica #ACT30 #ACTSATalent #Nedbank #NedbankArts #SunInternational #BizArt #ACTstrat
ENDS
For media enquiries or additional information, please contact:
Debra de Souza at debranne@icon.co.za or on +27 82 822 9478 (WhatsApp calls only).
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Over 30 years of arts support – Arts & Culture Trust
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, 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 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 and South Africa
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, 71 of 2008, BASA is registered as a public benefit organisation. BASA champions business investment within the arts and cultural and heritage sector, driving focused and sustained partnerships by unlocking shared value and fostering social cohesion. For more information, go to 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, 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 a local industry leader in online gaming, offering the latest global technology in 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 Guest (MVG) are rewarded with exclusive offers and preferential rates through the MVG loyalty programme, designed exclusively for Sun International gaming patrons.
Sun International’s MVG programme celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024, making it the oldest loyalty programme in the country. 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.
About MTN South Africa
Launched in 1994, MTN South Africa is a subsidiary of MTN Group, a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE in South Africa under the share code ‘MTN’. Our strategy is ‘Ambition 2025: Leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress’.
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