Financial boost for ACT Scholarship Programme

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is proud to announce a substantial increase in funds for the ACT Performing Arts Scholarships 2010.

The ACT Scholarship Programme, funded by DALRO (Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation) and Nedbank, will not only be awarding two performing arts scholarships in 2010, but the combined total value of the scholarships will also be increased by R135,000.

“Through Nedbank supporting the arts over the past 15 years, we see beyond the entertainment value of the arts, and recognise its social and cultural significance.  Our support of the ACT Scholarship Programme is part of this ethos,” says Maseda Ratshikuni, Head of Nedbank Cause Marketing.

Grade 12 learners and undergraduates younger than 25 years of age, who are not considered to be professional, participate in a national competition where they are assessed on their acting, dancing and singing potential. Participants are required to demonstrate competence in all three disciplines with exceptional talent in at least one. Scholarship winners will be at liberty to select their preferred performing arts course at any accredited South African tertiary institution.

Steve Norman, who won the inaugural ACT | DALRO Performing Arts Scholarship in 2009, came out tops amongst more than one hundred candidates nationwide. Steve is currently studying acting at the University of Cape Town.

"Strategic partnerships between key players are fundamental to encouraging and nurturing the arts in South Africa. DALRO deems its partnership with the Arts and Culture Trust, Nedbank and other sponsors to be a shining example of resource-pooling with the object of giving of life's most privileged gifts – education," says Gérard Robinson, Executive Director of DALRO.

Due to the increasing number of enquiries ACT is currently receiving the registration closing dates have been extended as follows:

Grahamstown - Friday 25 June

Durban - Friday 02 July

Cape Town - Friday 09 July

Johannesburg - Friday 16 July

The registration form, guidelines and rules of the Programme are available on the ACT website on the DOWNLOADS page. For more information please visit www.act.org.za.

“I commend DALRO and Nedbank for their commitment to the arts and to developing young talent. Despite the current climate where economic conditions and other factors have posed serious challenges to artists and arts organisations in South Africa, it is no mean feat that ACT will be awarding two performing arts scholarships to the value of R105,000 each this year,” says Pieter Jacobs, General Manager of ACT.

The two winners will be announced at a final round hosted in the Globe Theatre at Gold Reef City on 28 September 2010.

The ACT Scholarship Programme is funded by DALRO and Nedbank and is supported by Classicfeel Magazine, Gold Reef City Casino and Sleepy Gecko Guesthouse.

About the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT)

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is South Africa’s premier, independent arts funding and development agency. The primary aim of ACT is to increase the amount of funding available for arts and culture initiatives, and to apply these funds to innovative, sustainable projects that make a meaningful contribution to society.

Structured ACT funding programmes support projects that contribute to improving the quality of life in communities where it is most glaringly needed. In tandem with this, ACT supports innovative projects which renew and advance the arts in South Africa.

In all these endeavours, ACT covers the broad spectrum of the arts, ranging from grassroots and community-based projects to professional initiatives. Go to www.act.org.za for more information about ACT, its funding programmes, criteria for assessment and submission of applications online.

About the Dramatic Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO)

DALRO is a multi-purpose copyright society administering various aspects of copyright on behalf of authors and publishers. DALRO’s main areas of administration are reprographic reproduction rights (photocopying from published editions), public performance rights (including stage rights for book musicals and dramas) and reproduction rights (whether for publishing or copying) in works of visual art. For more information please visit www.dalro.co.za.

About Nedbank

Nedbank is a Founding Trustee of the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT). The Nedbank Arts Affinity programme was started in 1994 and comprises a suite of banking products including credit cards, savings accounts, current accounts and the recently launched investment accounts. When a client uses any of these banking products, Nedbank makes a donation to ACT on behalf of, and at no cost to, the client.

One of four multi-award winning programmes, the Nedbank Affinity programme has raised over R140 million for arts and culture, sport development, helping needy children and the environment.

Support ACT by opening a Nedbank Arts Affinity current account, credit card account, savings account and/or investment account today and support South African creativity through your everyday banking.  Visit any Nedbank branch, call 0860 DO GOOD (0860 36 4663), or for more information, visit www.nedbankarts.co.za.

About Classicfeel Magazine

CLASSICFEEL is an award-winning monthly magazine that brings the best in classical and jazz music, visual arts, film and theatre, as well as food and travel, to its readers. It speaks to a niche, high-end market with discerning tastes, across gender, race and age. Proudly South African, the magazine focuses on local content, while highlighting the best in international information. The high standard of the magazine has won the sought-after Arts and Culture Trust Award and a BASA Award, as well as the SAPPI PICA Award for Excellence in Publishing. For more information please visit www.classicfeel.co.za.

About Gold Reef City Casino

Gold Reef City Casino is home to two of South Africa’s finest arts and entertainment venues - the luxurious 1100-seater theatre, The Lyric, one of Johannesburg’s top venues for local and international productions and the smaller, intimate Globe Theatre. The Lyric is fully equipped to handle ambitious, large-scale productions with its state of the art lighting and sound systems and has featured world-class productions and events, from Broadway musicals to ballet and stand-up comedy, whereas the Globe Theatre made its reputation with “African Footprint”, a celebration of popular South African music and culture. For more information about performances and venue hire at Gold Reef City, please contact Calum Stevenson on 011 248 5167.

About Sleepy Gecko Guesthouse

Sleepy Gecko Guesthouse is a new establishment in the heart of trendy Melville in Johannesburg. Situated at the corner of 7th Street and 3rd Avenue, Melville, it is right on the doorstep of the ‘vibey’ bars, restaurants and shops. For more information please contact Greg on 011 482 5224.