Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) has been at the forefront of bridging the gap between the business and creative industries for more than two decades. The BASA Supporting Grants Programme has been instrumental in cementing a wide range of business and arts partnerships for creative projects nationally.
“Generously funded through an annual allocation from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, to date more than 1,700 beneficiaries have received the support of over R43-million, leveraging in excess of R567-million in sponsorship from the business sector,” comments Ashraf Johaardien, CEO of BASA. “Supporting Grants form the core of BASA’s mission to promote mutually beneficial partnerships and are open to all registered creative organisations and practitioners, regardless of their size or level of experience and financial support is available for projects able to demonstrate compelling mutually beneficial partnerships with business.”
The following is a list of the most recent BASA Supporting Grant recipients:
Vrystaat Arts Festival 2023 Marketing Campaign (Vrystaat Arts Festival) partnered by Media24
Finding its feet following the pandemic, for the first time since pre-COVID,Vrystaat Arts Festival will be hosted during its traditional timeslot in July 2023. The festival aims to put a big focus on marketing and communication in a post-COVID festival space.
Read more at vrystaatkunstefees.co.
Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) (Kuntse Onbeperk NPC) partnered by ABSA Group Limited
The 27th Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) sponsored by Absa begins on Sunday 9 April in Oudtshoorn. The in-demand, family-friendly festival will once again play host to a plethora of creative delights and a showcase of the arts.
Read more at kknk.co.za
ACT Nyoloha Sponsorship Programme (Arts and Culture Trust) partnered by Sun International
The ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme is an undergraduate scholarship programme aimed at artistic youth aged between 17–25 who qualify for university exemption, with a strong focus on professional and personal training and development.Through a series of workshops and mentorship, this programme will ultimately result in a fully funded undergraduate scholarship for one lucky candidate.
Read more at act.org.za
The Fringe @NAF2023 (National Arts Festival) partnered by Standard Bank
The Fringe @NAF2023 will feature between 150 and 200 productions, providing a venue for both established and up-and-coming artists to present cross-disciplinary work at the National Arts Festival to audiences, local and foreign producers, and other artists.
Read more at nationalartsfestival.
Hermanus FynArts 2023(Hermanus FynArts) partnered by Pioneer Freight
Combining an arts festival and a winter school programme, the iconic Hermanus FynArts Festival returns for its eleventh year, offering a variety of high-calibre artistic activities and skills-development programmes. This year, the festival has placed a greater focus on opportunities for up-and-coming performers from marginalised neighbourhoods.
Read more at hermanusfynarts.co.za
Zo!Mute (Vuyani Dance Theatre) partnered by Total Energies
Vuyani Dance Theatre kicks off its performance year with a much-anticipated collaboration between two of South Africa’s celebrated choreographers, Vincent Mantsoe and Gregory Maqoma. The duo presents the world premiere of Zo!Mute, a thrilling double bill set to take place on local and international stages.
Read more at www.webtickets.co.za
Open Studios Joburg (META Foundation) partnered by Quorum Holdings
Open Studios Joburg is an initiative that sees ten Joburg-based organisations opening their doors to the public. Essentially a large-scale, two-day festival, it enables artists to open their studios to the public with the aim of selling work, building new audiences and stimulating a love of the creative industries within Johannesburg’s inner city and surrounding areas.
Read more at augusthouse.co.za
Turbine Art Fair 2023 (Turbine Art Fair) partnered by Hyde Park Corner
Championing established and new talent in an accessible and inclusive environment, Turbine Art Fair (TAF) is a unique South African art fair that brings together galleries, artists, and curators from around the country to present and sell contemporary African art. Founded in 2013 by The Forum Company, the fair has become the epicentre of emerging art in Southern Africa.
Read more at turbineartfair.co.za
Global Dance Supreme 2023 Qualifiers (Global Dance Supreme) partnered by The Leading Edge
South Africa’s regional preselection qualifier events for Global Dance Supreme 2023 will be taking place in five provinces this year. The best-performing dance duos, artists and dance groups will be selected to compete against 12 other countries at theInternational Championship event in October 2023 in Johannesburg.
Read more at www.
Credo Mutwa Production (Sibikwa Arts Centre) partnered by Total Energies
Sibikwa Arts Centre, as part of its Inclusive Development, Education and Advocacy Programme, is staging a production of Credo Mutwa’s writings, which tell of African cosmology, how the universe emerged and myths of the remote past. Unfolding in an intricate and vivid cultural tapestry, Mutwa’s epic stories dovetail into Sibikwa’s African focus and commitment to providing unique learning experiences for learners of all ages.
Read more at www.sibikwa.co.za
Spring Klean Jozi (Love Our City Klean NPC) partnered by Makers Valley Partnership
Love Our City Klean (LOCK) is a creative waste management company that is focused on the effective diversion of waste from landfill for minimisation and repurposing. Through a series of murals, supported by BASA, POLYCO and The Makers Valley Partnership, LOCK has been facilitating environmental education and awareness projects around the east of the City of Joburg. These initiatives address the eradication of dumping hotspots and changing the look and feel of these hotspots to walls with murals that speak to “klean, safe and green.”
Read more at www.sacities.net
The Ancestral Jazz Project (Women in Music SA NPC) partnered by Jazz in the Native Yards
The Ancestral Jazz Project is aninitiative that aims to create a newjazz language in South Africa and abroad by visiting music schools and sharing these sounds with young, up-and-coming musicians. The Ancestral Jazz Project will not only be touring CapeTown, but will tour in London and Croatia, as well as honouring an invitation from Berklee University to tour in May 2023.
Read more here
Dance for All Outreach Training Programmes (Dance for All) partnered by G&M Food and Co
With a strong focus on empowering youth from previously disadvantaged communities, Dance for All aims to create a stronger culture of dance for every walk of life. From communities facing socio-economic challenges, to professional dancers in the scene, Dance for All’s programmes are designed to carve out professional dance careers inSouth Africa and abroad through training of a globally recognised standard.
Read more at danceforall.co.za
FEDA | Festival of Excellence in Dramatic Arts partnered by Easy Equities
FEDA is a one-act play festival that provides young creatives, particularly high school students, with a space to create and perform original or scripted pieces in front of an audience. The festival has been running for over 10 years and attracts industry professionals who give detailed feedback to the students after each evening of performances. FEDA is a space to encourage, inspire and nurture South Africa’s future performers, theatre creators and industry professionals.
Read more at www.fedafestival.co.
Contemporary Archive Project Festival Incubator Programme (Contemporary Archive Project NPC) partnered by Centre for Creative Arts UKZN
The Contemporary Archive Project Festival Incubator Programme features a 4–5 month photography programme for five emerging photographers (newly graduated or independently practising) to help them think more critically about image making and contribute to the ContemporaryPhotographic Archive (CAP). Providing training based on ethical and professional best practices, the photographers will also have the opportunity to photograph the Centre for Creative Art’s various festivals in creative ways that will be exhibited and added to the digital archives.
Read more here
BASA’s Supporting Grants programme is open for applications. For application details and further information, please go to the Supporting Grants page
