ACT Scholarships Programme goes National

The dream of winning a Performing Arts Scholarship from the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) can become a reality for three young performers in 2015.

In partnership with the Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO) and the Nedbank Arts Affinity – ACT, South Africa’s premier independent arts funding and development agency, presents the 7th Annual ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Performing Arts Scholarships Programme.

This premium arts tuition competition is open to Grade 12 learners and individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 who are not considered professionals and wish to pursue undergraduate studies in the performing arts.
These individuals are encouraged to register for participation in the regional round of nationwide auditions. To afford this opportunity to as many aspirants as possible, auditions will be held in the following regions:

30 June and 1 July: Durban (KwaZulu-Natal)
3 and 4 July: Cape Town (Western Cape)
6, 7 and 8 July: Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape)
15 July: Pretoria (Gauteng)
16 and 17 July: Johannesburg (Gauteng)
23 July: Kimberley (Northern Cape)
25 July: Bloemfontein (Free State)
28 July: Potchefstroom (North West)
30 July: Witbank (Mpumalanga)
01 August: Polokwane (Limpopo)

“We are thrilled by the growing interest and participation of extremely talented aspiring performing artists over the past few years and we are delighted that for the first time since the programme’s inception in 2009 ACT will be hosting auditions nationally,” said Pieter Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer at ACT.

Participants will be put through their paces, showcasing their talents in acting, singing and dancing with an exceptional talent in at least one of these disciplines. In addition to preparing the prescribed performances, contestants will also have the opportunity to perform a monologue of their own choice.

In previous years the finals have been judged by industry greats and experts such as; Gregory Maqoma, Kim Cloete, Nthati Moshesh, Bryan Schimmel, Anton Luitingh, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Jennis Williamson. This year’s national search will be judged by ACT’s Pieter Jacobs and Deidré Schoeman.

“Once again, DALRO is incredibly proud to be associated with this prestigious programme. Our Performing Arts industries are dependent on those who operate within it, to grow and stimulate it. We urge anyone who is capable of acting, dancing and singing to register for this year’s ACT | DALRO | NEDBANK Perfroming Arts Scholarships programme,” said André Cloete, Supervisor for Theatrical Rights at DALRO.

To date, since its inception six years ago, the ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Performing Arts Scholarships Programme has awarded 12 scholarships to the total value of R1,260, 000.00 This year, another three scholarships (R150 000, R105 000 and R60 000) totalling the value of R315 000 will be awarded to the top three performers.
“Our continued commitment to the arts and cultural heritage of our country stems from the Nedbank’s aspirations of leading transformation and enabling a community of leaders who are as highly involved in the communities we serve. We believe that our on-going funding of the scholarship programme will contribute towards the creation of a more cohesive and thriving society. A society committed to making things that really matter happen,” said Nkosinathi Msiza, Senior Manager for Brand Communications at Nedbank.

Finalists must be available for the final round from 6 to 12 October in Johannesburg where winners will be announced and awarded the scholarships at the finale. The recipients will be at liberty to select their preferred performing arts course at any accredited South African tertiary institution.

2014 winners, Katlego Nche (R150,000) and Usisipho Nteyi (R105,000) are both registered for a National Diploma in Musical Theatre at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and Mbasa Soga (R60,000) is registered at the University of Cape Town (UCT) for a B. Mus in Dance.

Registrations for the Scholarships Programme are open until 31 May 2015.
For more information on previous winners, finalists, guidelines and registration, visit www.act.org.za; email scholarships@act.org.za or contact the ACT office on 011 712 8403.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

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 at https://twitter.com/#!/actorgza or like the Trust’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arts-Culture-Trust-ACT/162339817162875

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 visit www.dalro.co.za

The Nedbank Arts Affinity is a proud supporter of the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT). Since the inception of ACT in 1994, Nedbank has raised and distributed nearly R15 million through our Arts Affinity Programme, in support of more than 800 South African arts, culture and heritage development projects, at no cost to our clients. To open a Nedbank Arts Affinity account please visit any Nedbank branch or call 0860 DO GOOD (36 4663). For more information please visit www.nedbankarts.co.za.

ACT acknowledges support from the following organisations as regional partners: University of Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN) Port Elizabeth Opera House (PEOH), Market Theatre, Mayibuye Arts Centre, University of the Free State’s Scaena Theatre, Witbank Civic Theatre, Artéma Instituut vir Kunstebestuur en Ontwikkeling.

Author: Gilly Hemphill from The Famous Idea.
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