Registration opens for 2014 ACT Scholarship Awards

The ACT/DALRO/Nedbank Performing Arts Scholarships Programme is aimed at Grade 12 learners and individuals younger than 25 years of age who are neither registered for an undergraduate degree nor considered to be a professional performing artist.

The programme takes the form of a competition where participants are assessed on their acting, dancing and singing potential and culminates in a final showcase before an independent panel comprising judges like popular artist HHP, producers Hazel Feldman and Richard Loring, television personality Rozanne McKenzie and choreographer Gregory Maqoma, who auditioned in the final round in the past.

"Education is the key and this applies as much in the arts as in accounting, law or engineering. Without the cultural representation the arts bring, we would completely miss the message of a critical part of our social framework and our society would be far poorer for it," said MD of DALRO, Advocate Nathi Gaisa.

Nelspruit added

In order to open this opportunity for as many aspirants as possible, this year's audition circuit will include Nelspruit in addition to their usual stops in Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. Auditions will take place in June and July.

Three scholarships will be awarded in 2014, to the values of R150 000; R105 000 and R60 000; totalling R315 000.

The winners will be announced after the final, hosted by UJ Arts & Culture at the University of Johannesburg in October 2014. Scholarship recipients will be at liberty to select their preferred performing arts course at any accredited South African tertiary institution.

The Scholarships Programme is currently open for registrations until 31 May, 2014.

For more, go to www.act.org.za