In keeping with its mandate to support and develop South Africa’s arts, culture and heritage sector, the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) has awarded R28.9 million to 181 beneficiaries across the country. This is an increase of R5 million from the last funding session. For the 2018 funding cycle, the NAC receive 1341 applications from the funding call where the art community was encouraged to apply for project funding.
The Northern Cape received an allocation of R2 million in support of 12 projects. The province was allocated funding for 3 of the 5 funding programme. Capacity Building was funded for R350 000.00 while Social Cohesion received an allocation of R882 482.00, Arts Platforms was funded R850 000.00.
The provincial allocation saw the usual trend with Gauteng leading with an allocation of R8 million and 51 applications supported followed by KwaZulu-Natal had an allocation of R3.7 million for 26 applications, the Western Cape funded 23 projects to the value of R3.3 million, the Eastern Cape was allocated R2.8 million in support of 21 projects and Mpumalanga was allocated R2.6 million for 13 projects. R1.9 million was allocated to the Free State in support of 12 projects, the North West was allocated R2.3 million in support of 10 projects, the Northern Cape supported 12 projects to the value of R2 million and R1.7 million was allocated to Limpopo in support of 13 projects.
To encourage the strategic initiative of promoting equity in the arts on a national scale, it is encouraging to note that R11.7 million has been awarded to women-led projects, R11.5 million has been awarded to youth led projects, a further R5.2 million has been awarded to projects promoting indigenous art forms and people living with disabilities were supported an allocation of R1.4 million. Compared to the last funding session there was a 45.73% increase in funding for projects of an indigenous nature and 26.97% increase for the funding of youth led projects. Women led project funding saw an increase 0.6% and funding for people living with disabilities increased by 11.43% for 2018 funding cycle. “This is not just about the disbursement of funds. It is a part of our journey of undergoing constant and unrelenting transition to cater to the needs of arts and cultural workers and their development. This is our way of enabling and giving support to individuals who will go on to contribute to the industry. Our aim is to fund for impact and do so in a meaningful and sustainable way,” says NAC Interim Chief Executive Officer, Mr Zolani Mkiva.
The MEC for Sport , Arts and Culture Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo Gigaba said that “While I am indeed grateful for the work done by each one of you. I am also aware that funding is more often than not a huge challenge in your sector and every indication is that it could become worse before it becomes better. I am also of the view that you might think the funding received today is a drop in the ocean needed by you to transform the sector and take arts to the next level and ensure that you become self sustainable.The Northern Cape Government will however continue to, within the constraints of competing demands, fund the Arts to the best of its ability. I do however urge you to confront the reality of a diminishing fiscal by reviewing how you organize yourselves, how you share resources and how you collaborate so that there are mutual benefits for all. The key benefit being the development of the strategic asset, cultural warmth”.
In recognising the breadth of the arts sector and thinking around the extended value chain in the sector the NAC introduced a programmatic approach to funding earlier this year and all funding applications to beneficiaries are located within specified programmes instead of individual disciplines. This year, R5.4 million was allocated to the Social Cohesion and Nation Building programme, Capacity Building was allocated R4.8 million while Strategic Initiatives was allocated R3.3 million. Innovation, Design and Creation of New Works and Arts Platforms were allocated R5.3 million and R9.6 million respectively.
The National Arts Council announced the funding results in KZN was held at The Playhouse Company on 10 November 2018. The NAC will undertake provincial roadshows where provincial funding allocations will be announced.
Ends.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR:
The NAC, established in 1997, is a national agency mandated by the Department of Arts and Culture, with the responsibility of developing South Africa’s creative industry by awarding grants to individuals and organisations in the arts. This is embedded in the NAC’s mission which is to develop and promote excellence in the arts. The NAC operates by funding applicants to submit their project proposals and applications for project funding once per annum, in which an independent panel of experts in each of the programmes who adjudicate the applications and make recommendations to EXCO and Council. All successful applicants’ names have been published on the NAC website www.nac.org.za
Dates for Provincial Announcements:
12 November – Northern Cape
13 November – Western Cape
14 November – Free State
15 November – Eastern Cape
16 November – North West
Issued on behalf of the NAC
Contact: Janet Molekwa
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