The projects receiving project-specific grants span the whole country and include several important drama festivals - among them the Nieu Bethesda Arts Festival Association's 2010 ABSA Fugard Festival (sponsored by AKTV and ABSA) and the Kwa-Zulu Natal-located Buhlebomzinyathi Youth Organisation's Youth Against HIV/ AIDS Drama Festival, which also secured the grant with the help of sponsor ABSA.
Also in the mix this cycle is visual arts in the form of the Wilderness Foundation SA's KZN-based Mary Stainbank Memorial Art Gallery, which made the application with Plascon Paints SA and an anonymous benefactor. It aims to preserve the work of this important South African artist.
Representing dance is The Dance Factory's presentation of Dada Masilo's "Carmen" (in the Western Cape) - which earned the grant with the support of Standard Bank - as well as two other dance projects. Music also takes centrestage this cycle through a supporting grant given to Mmino South African-Norwegian music cooperation's "Back to ekasi tour" celebrating 50 years of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The sponsors for this project were SAMRO, Prosound and Gallo Music.
Applications for the next cycle of Business and Arts South Africa Supporting Grants in 2010 close on November 3rd with the announcement of successful recipients being made on available on December 1st.
The 2010/2011 Business and Arts South Africa Supporting Grants are awarded six times in the financial year after deliberation by the organisation's board. In a carefully designed and monitored process, both the arts applicant and the sponsor complete application forms.
Available on www.basa.co.za, these forms are designed to encourage the two partners to work together and identify areas of potential benefit. Business and Arts South Africa's board allocates funds to the project once it has assessed how the partnership benefits both the sponsor and the recipient. This is in keeping with the organisation's belief in taking arts projects from "seed to strength to sustainability."
Business and Arts South Africa Supporting Grant Scheme is funded by an annual allocation from the Department of Arts and Culture, this scheme continues to serve as a mechanism through which business and the arts can engage and achieve mutual benefit.
Grant Recipients:
- Organisation: The Wakkerstroom Arts Festival
Project: The Wakkerstroom Arts Festival
Sponsor: Joshua Doore and Randon & Associates
Region: Mpumalanga
Project outline:
The Wakkerstroom Arts Festival has been created for multiple reasons: it gives a platform to artists and musicians, exposes a rural community to an arts festival and its benefits, promotes Wakkerstroom as a tourist destination and boosts the local economy.
- Organisation: Buhlebomzinyathi Youth Organisation
Project: Youth Against HIV/ AIDS Drama Festival
Sponsor: ABSA
Region: Kwa-Zulu Natal
Project outline:
Now in its fifth year, the Youth Against HIV/ AIDS Drama Festival sees teams from 50 schools in the Dannhauser and Newcastle areas workshop theatre pieces around HIV/AIDS management related themes. These teams then showcase their pieces and the best three drama groups are awarded prizes.
- Organisation: Mmino South African -Norwegian music cooperation
Project: "Back to ekasi tour" celebrating 50 years of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Sponsor: SAMRO, Prosound and Gallo Music
Region: Lesotho, Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Rusternburg
Project outline:
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (LBM) embarked on a township tour to celebrate their 50th birthday, which was mounted with the support of Mmino. The seven free concerts featured Kristin Asbjornsen as well as two local bands at each stop - and were aimed at reviving the SA live performance circuit as well as celebrating Dr. Joseph Shabalala's 70th and Mmino's 10th birthdays.
- Organisation: East London Guild Theatre
Project: The Guild Theatre Development Programme
Sponsors: Transnet Foundation
Region: Eastern Cape
Project outline:
The Guild Theatre Development Programme hosts outreach workshops in various disciplines (drama, vocal, dance, script-writing and backstage). Its intention is to identify potential talent from these workshops and give these individuals a platform to showcase their artistic product on the Transnet Theatre Truck. The plan is to use the truck stage on six occasions during the year.
- Organisation: The Dance Factory
Project: Dada Masilo "Carmen"
Sponsors: Standard Bank
Region: Western Cape
Project outline:
A performance season of dancer and choreographer, Dada Masilo's Carmen. This includes rehearsing, travelling and performing costs of 12 dancers plus 3 technicians whilst still ensuring the performances are made accessible to audiences.
- Organisation: Sibikwa Arts Dance Company / Sibikwa Art Centre
Project: Breaking New Ground - Sibikwa Arts Dance Company
Sponsor: RMB (Rand Merchant Bank), Tshikululu Corporate Social Investment
Region: Gauteng
Project outline:
RMB as been a sponsor for three years. The Sibikwa Arts Dance Company/Sibikwa Art Centre received a supporting grant over and above their funding to assist with the Breaking New Ground - Sibikwa Arts Dance Company.
- Organisation: Nieu Bethesda Arts Festival Association
Project: 2010 ABSA Fugard Festival
Sponsor: ATKV and ABSA
Region: Eastern Cape
Project outline:
A festival that celebrates and promotes the work of Athol Fugard. Six Fugard plays are performed, along with other local plays, music performances, various art exhibitions and discussions.
- Organisation: Wilderness Foundation SA
Project: The May Stainbank Memorial Art Gallery
Sponsor: Plascon Paints SA and Anonymous Philantropist
Region: Kwa-Zulu Natal
Project outline:
The Mary Stainbank Memorial Art Gallery commemorates Mary Agnes Stainbank (1899 - 1996) who has been described as "one of the most important artists of her generation". Her talent and body of work were largely neglected in her lifetime and she was marginalised on account of her gender. Stainbank has been credited as as one of the forerunners of modernism in South African sculpture. Her body of work is understood to be the largest intact collection of a South African artist. The museum will also accommodate the works of other local artists.
- Organisation: South Africa Ballet Theatre (SABT)
Project: The SABT Air Products Alexandra Outreach Programme
Sponsor: Air Products
Region: Gauteng
Project outline:
SABT Outreach programmes are skills and capacity development programmes that operate in previously disadvantaged communities. Children's school work and relationships in the home have improved due to their participation. The children then perform at the Dikonakona annual showcase, a festival run under the auspice of the National Eisteddfod Academy with the backing of the Department of Education. At the end of the festival the children are awarded various certificates of achievement.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
About Business and Arts South Africa:
Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) is an internationally recognised South African development agency which incorporates the arts into, and contributes to, corporates' commercial success. With a suite of integrated programmes, Business and Arts South Africa encourages mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts. Business and Arts South Africa was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative of government and the business sector, to secure the future development of the arts industry in South Africa, through increased corporate sector involvement. Established as a Section 21 company, Business and Arts South Africa is accountable to both government and its business members.
