ACT Scholarship recipient wows Idols judges

“Winning an ACT Scholarship has changed my life completely,” says Kunene, “not only have my dreams of going to university come true, but I have been given the opportunity to further my knowledge on what I am passionate about.”

Since 2009, ACT has been supporting arts students through their Scholarship Programme. The only difference this year is that with additional support from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), ACT is also able to make Scholarships available to first and second-year university students.

After winning a Scholarship in 2012, Kunene used the funding to enroll at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard Campus. There she completed a three-year undergraduate degree in Music and Drama Performance.

Pieter Jacobs, Chief Executive of ACT says; “It’s very rewarding to see our Scholarship recipients achieve their goals and realise their dreams. We are tremendously proud of Amanda for making it to the top 16 of Idols SA and wish her the very best as she embarks on this exciting journey.”

Since graduating, Kunene has been performing around her community and around South Africa. “I was also given the opportunity to represent Africa at the ANOC Olympic Gala Dinner in Bangkok, Thailand in 2014 with the legendary Madala Kunene,” she says. Kunene believes this artistic and educational whirlwind has helped her grow both as a person and a performer. “Being able to step on different stages where phenomenal artists have performed is such a humbling experience. I am really fortunate to be able to do what I love and to work with well-respected individuals in the entertainment industry.”

During this year’s popular production of Idols SA, Kunene wowed the celebrity judges, who granted her with a covetable Golden Ticket during the first round of auditions. This ticket, fast-tracked Kunene to the Top 16 of the competition’s 12th season. “Being on Idols has been a wonderful experience,” she beams. “And being chosen to be in the Top 16 has been the most amazing experience ever!”

Gracing the small screen on a weekly basis has garnered Kunene a throng of fans. Every Sunday, the hashtag #AmandaKunene floods Twitter with messages of praise and support for the talented young songstress.

She firmly believes her studies, which were made possible through the ACT Scholarship Programme, helped to get her to this point in her promising career. When asked what her advice for this year’s Scholarship hopefuls would be, Kunene says; “continue believing in what you love”. “You are your biggest competition in life, never compare yourself to others because there is no one else like you on this earth,” she continues. “Respect is the most important thing in life, humble yourself, and always be willing to learn.”

Kunene, who is currently working towards her Honours degree, firmly believes that hard work and practice make perfect. “Live and walk in gratitude because pressure builds diamonds,” she concludes.

After a nationwide audition process, this years’ finalists in the Grade 12, first and second years ACT Scholarship finals have been selected.

The first and second years will go head-to-head in final showcases hosted in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and the Scholarship recipients will be named at each respective event. The six Grade 12 scholars will showcase their talent at a glittering grand finale on Monday, 10 October at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. These winners will also be named on the night.

Funded by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), and supported by the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Organisation (DALRO) and the Nedbank Arts Affinity, the 2016 Scholarships Programme will change the lives of dramatic arts, singing, dance and musical theatre scholars and students with scholarships to the value of R800 000.

For more information, please visit http://www.act.org.za/programmes/scholarships.html.

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. Through structured funding programmes, ACT provides support for all expressions of arts and culture, including literature, music, visual art, theatre and dance, and the support extends to festivals, community arts initiatives, arts management, arts education and arts administration. Follow ACT on Twitter (https://twitter.com/actorgza) or like the Trust’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TheArtsandCultureTrust).

The National Lotteries Commission relies on funds from the proceeds of the National Lottery. The Lotteries Act guides the way in which NLC funding may be allocated. The intention of NLC funding is to make a difference to the lives of all South Africans, especially those more vulnerable and to improve the sustainability of the beneficiary organisations. Available funds are distributed to registered and qualifying non-profit organisations in the fields of charities; arts, culture and national heritage; and sport and recreation. By placing its emphasis on areas of greatest need and potential, the NLC contributes to South Africa’s development. For more information, click here (http://www.nlcsa.org.za/).

The Nedbank Arts Affinity is a proud supporter of ACT. Since the inception of ACT in 1994, Nedbank has raised and distributed more than R16 million through its Arts Affinity Programme, in support of more than 800 South African arts, culture and heritage development projects, at no cost to its clients. To open a Nedbank Arts Affinity account please visit any Nedbank branch or call 0860 555 111, or click here (https://www.nedbank.co.za/content/nedbank/desktop/gt/en/aboutus/green-and-caring/affinity-programmes/arts.html) for more information.

The Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO) is a multi-purpose copyright society that collects royalties for the use of copyright-protected works on behalf of authors and publishers, which it then distributes back to the correct copyright-owner. As a custodian of copyright and the protection of rightsholders’ works, 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 click here (https://www.dalro.co.za/).

The Market Theatre is renowned world-wide for brilliant anti-apartheid plays that have included Woza Albert, Asinamali, Bopha, Sophiatown, You Strike the Woman You Strike a Rock, Born in the RSA, Black Dog – Inj’emnyama, as well as the premieres of many of Athol Fugard’s award-winning dramas. The Market Theatre’s history is intertwined with the cultural, social and political struggle for freedom in South Africa. For more information, please click here (https://markettheatre.co.za/).

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