The South African Artist – July 2019

51

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) have announced the launch of its
“25 Million Reasons to Give” campaign to mark the organisation’s
25th year anniversary celebrations in 2019 and to invite investors
to help it raise R25 million towards the arts. ACT is South Africa’s
oldest independent and sustainable arts funding and development
agency. From its foundation of strong corporate governance values,
the organisation nurtures and rewards excellence in the arts, drives
the South African creative economy and contributes to the country’s
GDP through its various programmes.

Established in 1994 by the then Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science &
Technology to secure financial and other resources for arts, culture and
creativity, ACT gained an endorsement from the first democratically
elected president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, who served as
ACT’s Patron-in-Chief for his term in office. Within the first five years
of its establishment, ACT’s Founding Trustees contributed a total of
R5 million to the trust. The sum became the financial base for further
generation and disbursement of funding towards various arts and
culture projects across South Africa.

ACT’s 25 Million Reasons to Give campaign is focussed on raising
investment to be disbursed across five key pillars established by the
organisation. These pillars are: ACT | DALRO | Nedbank Scholarships-
aimed at learners in grade 12 and individuals under the age of 25, ACT
Development Grants- disbursed to emerging or mid-level artists and
organisations as well as postgraduate students, ACT Building Blocks-
designed to build capacity through skills transfer, ACT Conference- an
annual conference designed to inspire change and the ACT Awards-

in celebration of excellence in South African arts, culture and creative

sector.

“Some of our investors have walked a long road with us and it is a

great honour to acknowledge and thank Nedbank, Sun International,

DALRO and the National Arts Council (NAC) for their generous financial

contributions over the years; contributions which have impacted so

many lives and organisations,” says ACT Chief Executive Officer,

Marcus Desando. “Looking back, we are proud of the sustained

impact ACT has had over the past 24 years, and now we are looking

to significantly bolster our fundraising efforts. To this end, it is the

vision of our Board of Trustees to ramp up our investment endeavours

to support these initiatives to a much greater extent. And what better

time than now, as part of our 25th anniversary celebrations. If R5

million had such an enormous impact, imagine what a further R25

million could do?”

“We therefore heartily extend an invitation to both our existing

sponsors and to future investors, to seriously consider the impact ACT

has had on both growing and preserving the arts, and to consider our

organisation as a platform to invest in. ACT prides itself in upholding

high corporate governance measures and makes a real and tangible

impact in the lives of individual and organisations, who add beauty to

life through the arts,” concluded Desando.

The ACT 25 Million Reasons to Give campaign will host a series

of events, talks and tours for investors and the general public to

participate in during its 25th anniversary celebrations.

YEAR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS

2019 Visual Art: William Kentridge

Music: Sibongile Khumalo

Literature: Antjie Krog

Arts Advocacy: Prof. Andries Oliphant

Dance: Veronica Paeper

Theatre: Nomhle Nkonyeni

2017

Visual Art: Basil Jones & Adrian Kohler (Handspring Puppet Company)

Music: Dorothy Masuku

Literature: James Matthews

Arts Advocacy: Dr. Lindiwe Mabuza

Dance: Adele Blank

2016

Visual Art: Penny Siopis

Theatre: Pieter Dirk-Uys

Music: Johnny Clegg

Literature: Dr. Mongane Walley Serote

Arts Advocacy: Albie Sachs

Lifetime Achievement Award in Dance: Johaar Mosaval

Campaign Hashtag: #25MRTG #ACT | Twitter: @actorgza | Facebook: facebook.com/TheArtsandCultureTrust

Instagram: @artsandculturetrust | Website: http://www.act.org.za

ARTS & CULTURE TRUST LAUNCHES

25 MILLION REASONS TO GIVE CAMPAIGN

Clockwise starting from top left:
TheatreDuo's Mahlatsi Mokgonyana (left) and Billy Langa
(right) are the ImpACT Awards runners up and recipients of the
ACT Development Grant in Dance.

Former broadcaster and spokesperson for the Ministry of
Transport Ayanda-Allie Payne as MC at the event.

ACT Lifetime Achievement Award winner in Visual Arts William
Kentridge (centre) with Veronica Paeper (left) and Nomhle
Nkonyeni (right) who won the ACT Lifetime Achievement
Awards for Dance and Theatre respectively.

Former Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza (centre) continues to
advocate the work of the arts in South Africa's developing
democracy.