ANNUAL REPORT 2008-2009 1 “A CREATIVE NATION SHOULD BE ONE WHERE LOCAL CONTENT IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY AND OUR FUNDING MUST ASSIST ARTISTS TO DEVELOP LOCAL CONTENT.” - Minister Lulu Xingwana, Department of Arts & Culture MZANZI ZULU DANCERS IN THE TRUTH BENEATH SUPPORTED BY ACT 2008 (BREADLINE AFRICA) | PHOTO PETER GREENWAY 3 2 MESSAGE FROM THE PATRON 4 VISION THANK YOU 5 MISSION for your courageous 6 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON mission to 8 GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT support arts and culture 10 GRANTS RECIPIENTS in our new South Africa. 14 ACT PROGRAMMES The Arts are 16 ACT AWARDS essential for a well-rounded 17 INVESTMENT REPORT education that 3 also speaks 18 FINANCIAL REPORT to the heart 19 INCOME STATEMENT and soul of a people, and 20 BOARD PROFILES nothing is 21 SPONSORS more needed now in the ageing South Africa, than a vibrant and MESSAGE critical climate. FROM THE PATRON OF THE ARTS & CONTENTS CULTURE TRUST (ACT) BEST WISHES ATHOL FUGARD PLAYWRIGHT 5 THE Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is regulated by the Trust Property Control Act, No 57 of 1988 (“the Trust Act”) and is South Africa’s premier, independent arts funding and development agency. To establish a self- sustaining perpetual fund for the development of arts, culture and heritage in South Africa. VISION To attract and provide ESTABLISHED FOR funding for the sustainable THE BENEFIT OF ALL development and growth SOUTH AFRICANS, THE of the arts, culture and OBJECTS OF ACT ARE heritage in South Africa, the development and actualised through mutually promotion of arts, culture beneficial partnerships and heritage; between the corporate, public and cultural sectors, the advancement of focused on making a artists, cultural and positive difference to the heritage practitioners; lives of all South Africans. the promotion of education in arts, culture and heritage; the construction of facilities and the creation and development of a sound infrastructure to support all of the above. GULA MATARI CHOREOGRAPHED BY VINCENT MANTSOE | PHOTO JOHN HOGG 6 7 FROM THE CHAIRPERSON CA) IN 2009 ACT THE primary aim of ACT is development of sustainable leading arts practitioners as our relationships, and our founding ethos. CELEBRATES A to increase the amount of infrastructures. and administrators. By increased our national In conclusion, I would PROUD TRACK funding available for arts Structured ACT funding using ACT as the conduit footprint. At all times the like to say goodbye and RECORD OF and culture initiatives, and programmes support for corporate social Board of Trustees, the thank you to former PLAYING A to apply these funds to in- projects that contribute to investments in artistic and Management Team and Chairperson Kutlwano STRATEGIC ROLE novative, sustainable proj- improving the quality of life cultural activities, private staff have ensured that we Masote and to outgoing IN THE ARTS AND ects that make a meaning- in communities where it sector companies rest uphold the mandate that Trustees, Bongi Bengu and CULTURE SECTOR ful contribution to society. is most glaringly needed. secure in the knowledge ACT is there to make a Janet Buckland. We are OF SOUTH ACT provides funding This is done in conjunction that their investments are difference in the lives of all proud to add your names AFRICA FOR for all expressions of arts with extending support to being judiciously applied to South Africans by fostering to the impressive list of FIFTEEN YEARS. and culture, including innovative projects, which maximum effect. creativity across all sectors. South Africans who have THE SOCIAL literature, music, visual art, renew and advance the arts These noble and bold We have engaged with served the greater interests AND ECONOMIC theatre and dance, and the in South Africa. In all these foundations support the creative practitioners and of cultural development in DEVELOPMENT support extends to festivals, endeavours, ACT covers core vision of a self- arts organisations about the South Africa by generously OF ANY COUNTRY community arts initiatives, the broad spectrum of the sustaining trust fund that work we do, how we fund giving of their time and UNFOLDS WITHIN arts management, arts arts from grassroots and is able to administer and initiatives, how we differ expertise to ACT. A SPECIFIC education and arts community-based projects support projects free from from other funding agencies, CULTURAL administration. It embraces to professional initiatives. reliance upon donors. and what distinguishes CONTEXT, WHICH all aspects of arts and ACT funds are allocated During the period under ACT. This has enabled us UNDERSCORES culture advancement to projects by an review we have increased to refine both the role and THE VIEW THAT such as training, the independent Board of our capacity, grown our vision for ACT as we moved DEVELOPMENT creative process, and the Trustees, which comprises financial reserves as well forward, whilst honouring ITSELF IS A CULTURAL PROCESS. BRENDA DEVAR CHAIRPERSON PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SA NATIONAL SCHOOLS FESTIVAL | SUPPORTED BY ACT 2008 (ROYAL NETHERLANDS EMBASSY) AND 2009 (BREADLINE AFRI R support the full spectrum of arts and culture, were publicly launched. Application forms and deadlines were replaced with a new user-friendly, “ONE OF THE the year, a revised co- online application process operation agreement with PATRON HALLMARKS OF GREAT Nedbank was drafted Athol Fugard and agreements with ART IS THAT YOU CAN’T Breadline Africa (BLA) and the Dramatic, Artistic and BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEE HOW HARD IT IS Literary Rights Organisation Brenda Devar (Chairperson) TO DO. GREAT ARTISTS (DALRO) were implemented. Maseda Ratshikuni (Deputy Chair) The net result is that ACT’s Yasmine Colley MAKE THE DIFFICULT financial statements for Nicola Danby the year ended 31 March Owen Dean (Legal Adviser) SEEM EFFORTLESS. 2009 reflect a surplus of Joseph Gaylard THE ITALIANS HAVE A R1,644,425. Income for André le Roux the year was just below MANAGE Ismail Mahomed BEAUTIFUL WORD FOR R5 million, with donations which allows applicants to Gérard Robinson making up more than submit requests for support Themi Venturas THIS – SPREZZATURA – 50% of that amount. In online via the ACT website, GENERAL MANAGER WITH ITS CONNOTATIONS addition, grants to the throughout the year. Ashraf Johaardien value of R1,550,000 were In summary, for the awarded to artists and arts year under review, ACT OF STYLE, EASE AND PROGRAMMES MANAGER organisations in all regions. continued to pioneer and Pieter Jacobs SPONTANEITY. THE SAME The ACT Awards execute its mandate with celebrated its tenth year. notable sprezzatura … PRINCIPLE APPLIES TO Increased sponsorship Thank you to the ACT Board ADMIN ASSISTANT from the Vodacom of Trustees for the time and Bridget Tshidzumba ORGANIZATIONS …” Foundation for the Lifetime dedication which they so - KAREN KAIN Achievement category willingly devote to ACT, and PR & PUBLICITY THE 2008/2009 period has enabled the recognition to our sponsors, partners Di Sparks | Behind the Scenes been one of intense planning, of three outstanding and friends for their Communications fundraising and organisational individuals whose ongoing support. transformation at ACT. extraordinary careers have AUDITOR had a profound and lasting Under the inspired A. L. van Heerden impact on the arts in South leadership of our indefatigable Africa. Chairperson, Brenda ACCOUNTANT Devar, a strong and almost The Board’s decision Vincent Slade to adopt a more palpable sense of purpose ASHRAF JOHAARDIEN pervaded every aspect of programmatic approach operations. Support from in the structuring of grants GENERAL MANAGER the Royal Netherlands was put into operation and Embassy was renewed for five funding programmes, to GENERAL GENERAL * As at 01 April 09 10 11 20 18 16 SOUTH AFRICAN SAN 14 DISCIPLINES GEOGRAPHICAL INSTITUTE (SASI) The !Xun, Khwe and 12 SPREAD ‡Khomani San participated 10 10 in three projects: N//aoh Djao, Sîsen and ‡Khomani 8 8 ACT | BLA FRINGE Home and Textile. These GRANTS 6 6 projects were livelihood PROJECTS The National Arts Festival PROJECTS 4 4 initiatives, with the in Grahamstown is the emphasis on art and craft 2 2 only festival in the country skills’ development. Product where the Fringe is open to 0 0 development workshops in KZN everyone. The participation ARTS FREE CAPE CAPE CAPE WEST STATE DANCE NORTH Platfontein and the Kalahari MA-AFRIKA CULTURAL ACT AGAINST IT ADVMIN EASTERN & CRAFT LIMPOPO on the Fringe by ten groups GAUTENG WESTERN FESTIVALS NORTHERN VISUAL ART VISUAL ART addressed various craft ORGANISATION Province: Limpopo MPUMALANGA from peri-urban and rural The Tsa Lapeng Music Number of cast/crew: 10 forms, including textile communities was facilitated Initiative provided young Language: English with printing, beading, crochet, and financially supported by people from marginalised African languages embroidery, carving and ACT and BLA. In total, 140 communities with the 2008-2009 basket-weaving. The focus artists from seven provinces Five performances at the of these projects was to opportunity to learn to National Arts Festival 2008 SOUTH AFRICAN (Eastern Cape, North West raise the quality of the read, write and play music. NATIONAL SCHOOLS’ Province, Gauteng, Limpopo, products produced as well Conducted at Tsa Lapeng FESTIVALS Free State, Mpumalanga as to create new products. Studios in Stinkwater by RITES OF PASSAGE SchoolSchool festivals are an and KwaZulu-Natal) were Over 170 !Xun and Khwe Sinky Sewela and Thapelo Province: Free State opportunityopportu for learners awarded grants. Seven crafters and 65 ‡Khomani Sebotsane, and assisted Number of cast/crew: 30 to experienceexpe the arts. A different cultures and crafters took part in the by world-respected South Language: Southern Sotho numbernumbe of these festivals this festival was able to languages (isiXhosa, N//aoh Djao and Sîsen African music educationists, with English tooktook placepl in the Eastern bring together a wide English, Setswana, Southern projects and ten full-time Mrs Helen Vosloo Cape,Cape, WesternW Cape, spectrum of young South Sotho, Northern Sotho, Four performances at the crafters were involved (University of Witwatersrand KwaZulu-Natal,KwaZul Northwest Africans.