Currently, there are almost fifty mentors working with arts organisations countrywide, each mentor imparting their specific skill on a completely volunteer basis.
"Etana is a specialist business insurer that is also proudly South African and traditionally has a passionate interest in the arts," said Etana's marketing manager, Josie Holley. "Supporting the mentorship programme makes a direct link between business and the arts and we see this as an extremely important relationship. All 18 of our branches around the country are involved in the programme because Etana also believes that the arts plays a big role in bringing about a well-functioning society."
With BASA facilitating the matching of mentors and mentees, arts organisations benefit from a range of highly skilled input - from marketing to financial planning, audience development, compliance, cash flow management and much more.
Arts organisations benefiting from the programme are uniform in their praise for it. PJ Sabbagha, founder of The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative (FATC) describes how mentor Alecia Nkadimeng came on board to help with personnel management and team teething problems during 2011.
"Our mentor's acute understanding of both the creative and business environments provided invaluable knowledge, insight and guidance to the FATC management team to appropriately and productively manage these difficulties," said Sabbagha. "Having a mentor has also helped significantly in guiding the team to the development of, and articulation of long-term strategic plans for the company and its programmes."
