02 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON ARTS & CULTURE TRUST 04 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT CONTENTS 06 ACT PROGRAMMES OVERVIEW To attract and provide To establish a 08 ANNUAL ACT AWARDS funding for the self-sustaining sustainable development perpetual 16 ACT CONFERENCE and growth of the arts, fund for the culture and heritage in development 28 ACT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME South Africa, actualised of arts, culture through mutually and heritage in 36 ACT BUILDING BLOCKS PROGRAMME beneficial partnerships South Africa. between the corporate, 39 ACT SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMME public and cultural sectors focused on 46 FINANCIAL REPORT making a positive difference to the lives of 48 SPONSORS all South Africans. 51 SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS 1 to promote the sharing of ACT has not been able AUTHOR AND TEACHER, ACT embarked on a transition opportunities for artists, and to fulfill is the production Lee Bolman, remarked that, from a defensive to a balanced arts and culture practitioners, of a prospectus. This is “a vision without a strategy strategy, which was fully as well as news about mainly due to the financial remains an illusion”. It is a realised during the year under industry issues (which is what implications of production; the truth the Arts & Culture Trust review. Despite these changes, attracts most subscribers). commemorative publication (ACT) has taken to heart over the economic climate has ACT has seen an increase in that was produced in the years, which is why it has stifled substantial growth of engagement on social media partnership with Nedbank has gone from strength to strength, the portfolio, which has also platforms, ending the year with been used for these purposes despite the challenges seen a revaluation of shares. more than 4 000 followers on instead. that arise in the course of Fundraising efforts have Facebook, more than 90 000 ACT made modest strides running an arts funding and been increased and positive on Twitter, and more than 6 to grow its footprint in development agency. returns are starting to show. 000 newsletter subscribers. peri-urban and rural areas To start planning our next This is evident in the number Since 2012, ACT has been but would have to consider five-year strategy would be of new partners coming on involved in advocacy work alternative tactics to have foolhardy without undertaking board, as well as an increase and has supported a number a meaningful impact on the a review of the successes and in sponsorship amounts in of public drives to improve Trust’s activities in these challenges that were faced in some instances. ACT has also policy that determines how areas. implementing the strategy that developed income-generating public funds for the arts I extend thanks to my has brought us here. Failure is streams, which has been giving are managed. ACT staff and fellow Trustees, ACT’s partners a reality of life a reality we at modest returns. Trustees are actively involved and the ACT staff for their ACT see as an opportunity to The implementation of in a number of networks commitment and drive. Finally, learn and improve, however I a digital communications and associations and have we extend special thanks to am happy to report that there strategy has seen ACT launch participated in numerous Robin Malan, Zayd Minty, Johan aren’t too many of those and a new responsive website, forums and conferences. Kruger, Thandi Swaartbooi, that the strategy and tactical which even enables applicants We extend a special word Karen Meiring and Jayesperi approaches the Trustees to submit applications via of thanks to our longstanding Moopen, to whom we are devised in 2012 have served smartphones. An extension partner, Nedbank, for joining immensely grateful for their the organisation well. of the site was the launch of ACT’s 20-year celebrations valuable contributions during ACT’s 2012–2017 strategy our blog, a platform used to by running a national media their terms as Trustees of ACT. prompted a change of the promote ACT’s programmes campaign, valued at over R1 We are truly sad to say our Trust’s investment mandate and affiliated projects and million, which has won the goodbyes, but are thankful for with the view of gaining more offers exposure to sponsors Bank and its implementing the impact they have made. capital growth. Followed and engages in arts advocacy. agency, Joe Public, an by an assessment of the However, the most prominent international Midas Award. MELISSA GOBA organisation’s financial model, aspect of the blog is its ability One tactical objective CHAIRPERSON 2 3 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S the year under review, the 15 scholarships have been programme focused on the made available to young, music industry and presented aspirant performers to pursue seven, Know Your Music undergraduate training at Rights and Responsibilities an accredited South African workshops in Johannesburg, tertiary institution. For the first Durban and Cape Town, time since 2009, auditions which were attended by were hosted in all nine 130 musicians, promoters, provinces. Participation has venue owners and music increased by 2%. professionals. The launch of the new In addition to heeding Lifetime Achievement and conference delegates’ ImpACT Awards for Dance plight to incorporate more made the 2015 annual ACT “YOU CAN’T EXPECT to compliance with branding support appear to be a better interactive components into Awards extra special. Once see change if you never and acknowledgement of fit for the organisation, as the the ACT | UJ Arts & Culture again, the awards ceremony do anything differently.” funded projects resulted in number of projects that are Conference offering, a was a highlight on the cultural This quote by Creative an increase in exposure, as not implemented, or have not concerted effort was made calendar, with South African Entrepreneur Meg Biron, well as a more consistent been completed successfully, to ensure the key findings of icons joining us to receive perfectly sums up the past application of the visual are below 1%. ACT has seen the #CreativeIntersections their Lifetime Achievement few years at the Arts & Culture identity of ACT and its increased exposure via funded conference reached Awards. Trust (ACT). Many new things sponsors. Programmes projects, also signaling a practitioners from across the We invite you to read were put to the test; some attracted PR value of more match between criteria and country. This was achieved more detailed reports of the succeeded and some did not. than R10 million each, year- projects selected for support. through the presentation of programmes in the pages The real value is taking this on-year, and the number of Approximately 40% of all national post-conference that follow. I conclude by knowledge into strategising applications and registrations development grants were seminars, which were well extending sincere thanks to and planning for the next five has also increased allocated to projects in peri- attended. the Board of Trustees for its “THIS YEAR HAS SEEN THE VALUE years. consistently. urban and rural areas. This year has seen the value valuable contributions and ACT’s programmes The Professional The Building Blocks of scholarships made available commitment to the Trust’s OF SCHOLARSHIPS MADE AVAILABLE have seen an increase in Development Programme has Programme aims to increase through the Performing Arts work. THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS national interest from media seen a complete restructuring, the capacity and sustainability Scholarships Programme and participants alike. which proved to have been a of South African arts and reach the R1.5 million mark. PIETER JACOBS SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMME REACH Increased monitoring of success. Projects selected for culture organisations. During Since its inception, a total of CEO THE R1.5 MILLION MARK” 4 5 ANNUAL ACT AWARDS The ACT Awards are held annually in recognition and celebration of excellence in 3,933,480 ACT PROGRAMMES South African arts, culture and creativity. ACT ARTS & CULTURE CONFERENCE The Arts & Culture Conference is aimed at sharing information with stakeholders in the creative economy with a view to developing, inspiring and enabling the sector. 3,005,000 ACT BUILDING BLOCKS PROGRAMME NO DISBURSEMENTS WERE The aim of the Building Blocks Programme is to strengthen the infrastructure that supports MADE DURING 2008 WHILE THE arts, culture and heritage programming TRUST WAS IN THE PROCESS and services. It seeks to strengthen local organisations through cultural planning, OF RESTRUCTURING ITS technical assistance, master classes and other OPERATIONS, WHICH RESULTED developmental efforts. IN THE ADOPTION OF A 1,550,000 ACT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 1,490,000 PROGRAMMATIC APPROACH. This development programme has been 1,287,600 The figures below include grants, bursaries and 1,173,900 1,159,195 scholarships (but excludes annual ACT Awards designed to enhance the continued 1,140,395 1,141,711 1,100,000 development of arts and culture in South 1,032,720 1,035,000 prize money. 941,000 933,580 Africa, and provides support for artistic 897,500 excellence in creative production, professional 800,000 729,000 development and training for the youth in the form of once-off grants. ACT SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMME 219,150 The scholarships programme makes grants 96,000 available for the costs of undergraduate study 31,326 in the performing arts at a leading accredited 2015 2014 2010 2012 1999 1996 2008 2016 2000 1997 2003 2002 2009 2013 2011 2006 1998 2005 2004 South African tertiary institution. 2001 2007 6 7 BY BENCHMARKING odds, consistently produced JOHNNY MEKOA in the United States. After QUALITY work, the Arts work of exceptional LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT the completion of his & Culture Trust (ACT) quality. Recognising these AWARD FOR ARTS qualification he returned to encourages artists to strive individuals supports their ADVOCACY South Africa and in 1994 to reach a high level of careers but also has a Ramakgobotla John Mekoa established the Music excellence in their chosen positive impact on their was born on the 11th of Academy of Gauteng.