After a rigorous selection process, the ACT Board of Trustees settled on eight projects, which spread across a range of artistic disciplines, including music, dance, heritage, literature and theatre. While supporting these projects ensures the development of arts, culture and heritage in South Africa, it also more broadly contributes to social development.
Prime examples include 'The Newcastle Schools Drama Festival' and the Hillbrow Theatre's 'The Inner City High Schools Drama Festival'. More than thirty schools based in and around the Newcastle area participate in the Newcastle Schools Drama Festival, while 'The Inner City High Schools Drama Festival' contributes towards building positive attitudes within the inner-city community of Johannesburg.
'Babes Mphatseng's Biography: History of Theatre in the Free State' and 'Plaatjie and the Lands Act of 1913' will add to the wealth of South African culture and heritage. The former is implemented by Free State writer and spoken word artist, Serame Makhele, and will document the history of black community theatre in the Free State. 'Plaatjie and the Lands Act of 1913' will utilise the ACT grant for the publication of a book that records the role of Sol Plaatjie as a journalist in relation to the Native's Land Act of 1913 and its aftermath, leading up to his death in 1932.
'We continue to contribute to the artistic and cultural development of our country. As the green and caring bank; we are honoured to be able to give back to the communities through the Nedbank Arts Affinity Programme. We thank all our Nedbank Arts Affinity clients who enable us to fund such projects at no cost to the client, but by simply banking with us,' says Maseda Ratshikuni, head of Cause Marketing at Nedbank.
Another project which enriches the study of South African history and heritage is 'Sounds from the past: Ancient Rock Gongs'. ACT's support will go towards the interactive exhibition - which will be implemented by the Origins Centre Association and the Rock Art Research Institute, and explores the lives of the Khoi San people, whose story is incomplete without the inclusion of rock-gong music.
The Johannesburg Youth Ballet secured funds that enable 32 members of their 55-strong company to travel to Durban for a run of 'Hansel and Gretel', and the Sedibeng Brass Band will use their grant for a community concert that is to take place on 5 October 2013.
The Youth Development: Children's Theatre has been selected for an ACT Development Grant for their production, 'Children of the Sands', which will perform at the Witbank Civic Theatre in September 2013.
The ACT Development Programme, funded by Nedbank Arts Affinity, supports all expressions of art and is open for applications on an on-going basis. ACT's user-friendly application process allows practitioners to submit applications online; other methods such as email, fax and post are available too. Aimed at youth and professional development, as well as the creation of new South African work, the ACT Development Programme makes provision for all forms of art, including but not limited to craft, dance, music, theatre, literature, heritage, visual art and new media.
ACT's chief executive officer, Pieter Jacobs, says, "While the demand for financial support has never been higher, we are grateful to the Nedbank Arts Affinity clients who have enabled the disbursement of 13% more funds to arts, culture and heritage projects than in the year before."
The next Development Programme funding cycle closes at the end of September 2013. The outcome of applications submitted during this cycle will be available by 13 November 2013. For more submission deadlines, criteria or to submit an application, go to www.act.org.za.
