FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 29 May 2025
Arts & Culture Trust Requests Proposals for ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme Artistic Director and Stage Manager
Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is inviting proposals from dynamic individuals to join the upcoming ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP) in the roles of Artistic Director and Stage Manager. The ACT seeks these programme personnel to support the NSP. Only South African citizens who are available from August – October 2025 are eligible to make application.
The Production Artistic Director (musical theatre experience will be highly considered) will be responsible for and facilitating the Performing Arts segment of the programme through the curation of rehearsals from 6 October – 10 October 2025. The selected candidate will work with an assistant choreographer and assistant vocal coach. Overall, the Artistic Director will be responsible for conceiving, developing, and implementing an artistic vision and focus, according to this year’s theme, for the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme Gala Event on 11 October 2025.
The Stage Manager will be responsible for coordinating the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme production from rehearsals to performances, working alongside the Artistic Director to ensure that the production is successful. The Stage Manager will be working with the Artistic Director during finals week from 5 October -12 October 2025 and execute the technical support for the artistic vision and focus for the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme Gala Event in October.
In partnership with Nedbank, Sun International, the MTN Foundation SA, and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) the ACT NSP is an undergraduate scholarship initiative designed to empower qualifying youth with opportunities to pursue tertiary education in visual and performing arts. Simultaneously, the programme aims to equip practicing artists with career-accelerating skills, ensuring sustainable careers in the contemporary job market of the cultural and creative industries.
“We’re committed to nurturing the next generation of creative talent,” says Jessica Denyschen, CEO of ACT. “We’re on the lookout for dynamic professionals who not only have a passion for the arts, but who also bring a strong commitment to mentorship, innovation, and excellence in their fields. Ideal candidates will have experience integrating emerging technologies into visual and performing arts, and a desire to help young artists unlock real-world opportunities. Through the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme, we aim to create meaningful pathways to employment for aspiring creatives—and we invite visionary artists to help us shape a more vibrant and inclusive creative future.”
The selected candidates will engage in a three-month bi-weekly mentorship and training programme, conducted online on Saturdays. The programme includes online training, mentorship with industry experts with a focus on discipline specific knowledge and information. The 2025 iteration of the programme encompasses a strong focus on the inclusion of immersive technologies in the visual and performing arts.
The culmination of the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme will see a selection of 15 finalists that will move ahead post-training phase to participate in an intensive week of master classes, and rehearsals, resulting in a final performing arts showcase and exhibition to win one of two scholarships to the value of three hundred thousand rand each. Participants collaborate with industry professionals, gaining valuable experience and the opportunity to connect with emerging artists from diverse backgrounds.
The deadline for applications is Friday, 13 June 2025 at at 4:30 pm. Further details regarding the job specifications of each position and the application process are available in the ACT Nyoloha RFP document which can be found when applying at www.act.org.za/nyoloharfp.
Enquiries or questions must be e-mailed to ACT Programme Coordinator Angelinah Kemane at angelinah@act.org.za. To keep in touch with the ACT, visit their website, follow them on X or like their Facebook page. [ENDS]
#ACTnyoloha #actstrat #ACTSAtalent #NedbankArtsAffinity #SupportWhatMatters #ArtEducation
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PRESS KIT LINK: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1UjMImCc3Ha_JGExHQS2rboV4OLEMVDjl?usp=drive_link
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SUBMITTED BY: Debra de Souza, debranne@icon.co.za, WhatsApp calls only: 082 822 9478.
Jeni Fletcher, (m) 082 825 5718 (e) jenifletcher@icit.co.za
EDITED BY: Arts & Culture Trust, info@act.org.za.
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About the Arts & Culture Trust – 31 years of supporting arts in South Africa
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. This support extends to festivals, community arts initiatives, arts management, arts education, and arts administration. Over the past 31 years ACT has supported more than 830 arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide, including 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 31 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.
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 Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code ‘MTN’. Our strategy is Ambition 2025: Leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress. Follow us: www.twitter.com/MTNza www.linkedin.com/company/mtn
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 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. 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, 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 socio-economic development 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 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.