The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is pleased to announce the successful candidates for the fourth iteration of the ACT Thuthukisani Programme Atologa 2024. This fourth iteration of the programme, with training provided by the The ICRD Group Foundation and Startup Business Campus, sees 50 participants selected from all 9 provinces of South Africa.
Leading up to this year’s open call, ACT hosted an information briefing session in February 2024 that attracted 500 artists, creatives, arts organisations, community arts centres, and arts entrepreneurs. This high turnout indicates a growing interest in the programme. A total of 141 eligible applications were received nationwide, from which 50 participants were chosen.
‘We are thrilled with the response and congratulate the 50 participants selected for the programme. The diversity and calibre of the selected candidates are truly impressive. We look forward to seeing these talented individuals grow and contribute to the arts and culture sector,’ said Jessica Denyschen, ACT CEO.
The ACT Thuthukisani Programme Atologa 2024 is a business development initiative designed to empower artists and creative entrepreneurs. The programme, facilitated by the ICRD Group Foundation, spans 3 months, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to launch profitable businesses within 90 days. The comprehensive training encompasses various elements, including creative and business strategy sessions to foster creativity while building strong business foundations, hands-on project validation workshops to refine project ideas with expert feedback, financial planning training on creating realistic budgets and understanding investor relations, and 1-on-1 mentorship sessions for personalised guidance and support.
The training includes elements of an ideathon, bootcamp, coaching sessions, masterclasses, and pitching opportunities. Industry experts are invited to provide expert advice in the 4 disciplines, ensuring participants receive high-quality, relevant insights and guidance. This multifaceted approach aims to ensure that participants can effectively develop and implement their projects over a 90-day period, this ultimately leading to the creation of profitable and sustainable businesses.
On completion of the training programme, participants will receive a certificate of completion for participation when meeting 100% of the programme requirements as outlined in the participant agreement. Participants will pitch their projects on completing the training for the opportunity to receive a cash investment and 1-on-1 mentorship. Only projects with merit that can generate real income will be eligible for potential investment.
Poovi Pillay, Executive Head of Corporate Social Investment (CSI) at Nedbank, says: ‘The ACT Thuthukisani Programme was created to help art businesses grow, and we can say with confidence that this is exactly what is happening. The Nedbank Arts Affinity through ACT has supported artists through many different projects over the years and what we found is that, regardless of the artists’ and creative industry practitioners’ talents, they need intensive mentorship training to learn how to effectively take charge of their finances, talent and lives in a structured, sustainable way. With the appropriate business and entrepreneurial skills, they are able to attain increasing levels of success and achieve their full potential.’
To keep in touch with ACT, please visit their website, follow them on Twitter or like their Facebook page.
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Celebrating 30 years of Arts Excellence – Arts & Culture Trust
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is South Africa’s premier independent development and art investment organisation. The primary aim of ACT is to increase the capacity for arts and culture initiatives to create sustainable futures through development and investment in innovative, sustainable projects that make a meaningful contribution to society. Through structured development programmes, ACT provides support to all expressions of arts and culture, including literature, music, visual art, theatre, and dance. This support extends to festivals, community arts initiatives, arts management, arts education, and arts administration. Over the past 30 years ACT has supported more than 830 arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide, including small businesses.
For more information, please visit the ACT website, follow them on X, or like their Facebook page.
About Nedbank In partnership with ACT, the Nedbank Arts Affinity has donated more than R30 million over 30 years to support over 830 arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide. If you would like to make a difference in the lives of talented young artists in South Africa, simply