ACT to disburse R 1, 5 million

The Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) invites artists and organisations involved in cultural or heritage work to submit funding applications for projects between 1 September 2005 and 31 August 2006. The deadline for applications is 15 June 2005 at 12:00. No late applications will be considered. The ACT board of Trustees will review the applications received and successful applicants will be announced in August 2005.

ACT is the oldest independent body established to fund arts and culture in post apartheid South Africa. With the support of Founding Trustees Nedbank, the Vodacom Foundation, Sun International, the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the Department of Arts and Culture, ACT has disbursed almost R10 million to more than 400 projects in all disciplines since 1996 including but not limited to arts administration, arts education, community art, festival, heritage, craft, fine art, dance, music, theatre, film and video, literature, multi-disciplinary, and new media. With renewed support from all of the Founding Trustees ACT will disburse a further of R1,5 million during the 2005 funding cycle. A portion of these funds will be made available to formal and non-formal educational institutions specialising in arts and culture for bursaries.

Projects should fall within one or more of the following five areas of development to be eligible for funding: job creation; creative skills; management skills; cultural diversity, cultural tourism or the expansion of local and international markets for South African culture.

Applications must be submitted on the prescribed application forms which can be obtained from the new ACT Offices in Woodmead or downloaded electronically from www.act.org.za.

For more information call ACT on +27 11 802 7646.