The programme provides support for artistic excellence in creative production, the development of new South African work, professional development and training for the youth.
"Nedbank has a proud history of supporting arts and culture in South Africa through the Nedbank Arts Affinity programme and we remain committed to cultural development through the sponsorship of development grants," says Maseda Ratshikuni, head of Nedbank cause marketing.
Three visual arts projects, two multi-disciplinary, one literature, one theatre and one dance project have been awarded development grants. They are the Academic and Non-Fiction Authors Association of South Africa (ANFASA) workshops, the Arts Incubator Programme, the Inner City High Schools Drama Festival, ROOM by UrbanArt Projects, Paul Greenway's 'UBOM! ON PAPER', the Arts Writers & Critics Mentorship Programme, Shadow Puppetry Collaboration (POKO Productions) and Kitchen Fables in a Cookie Jar.
The projects selected for support, in addition to the ANFASA workshops which will be taking place nationally, are based in or will be taking place in Limpopo, North West, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng.
Since 1994 Nedbank Arts Affinity donated more than R15 million to ACT for the support of arts, culture and heritage in South Africa. When clients use the Nedbank Arts Affinity products the bank makes a donation to ACT at no cost to the client. These donations are disbursed through the ACT development programme which makes provision for all expressions of art and is focused on the development of new South African work, youth development and professional development.
"ACT is extremely grateful to Nedbank and the Arts Affinity Clients for their ongoing support of the development of arts and culture in South Africa," says Pieter Jacobs, the general manager of ACT. "The announcement of projects supported during this funding cycle sees an increase in the number of development projects supported during the year, ending at the end of March 2012, by 36.6% in comparison to 2011," he adds.
The development programme is open for applications on an ongoing basis. The funding cycle closes on 31 May 2012.
