Business sponsorship of arts projects has been further leveraged through BASA’s supporting grants

Last edited: December 07, 2010

Posted by Business and Arts South Africa

The Business and Arts South Africa Supporting Grant Scheme is funded by an annual allocation from the Department of Arts and Culture, and continues to serve as a mechanism through which business and the arts can engage and leverage further mutual benefit through the partnership. Only arts projects with business support are eligible for the scheme, and both the arts applicant and the business sponsor are required to complete application forms.

A total of eight arts projects have been named as recipients of Business and Arts South Africaâ€™s fourth cycle of Supporting Grants for the current financial year. The projects receiving these financial grants are drawn from a diverse spread of arts disciplines and represent many different regions of South Africa. Business sponsorship for this cycle has seen small business and large corporations investing in the arts.

The 20th edition of Port Elizabethâ€™s Showtime Awards â€“ which recognise both amateurs and professionals in the city â€“ was one of the successful applicants, with sponsor African Unity Insurance. This ensures an event that pays tribute to excellence and also runs a two-week performing programme as part of the awards, is able to take place from January 20th to February 6th 2011.

The Vodacom Foundationâ€™s sponsorship of Business Against Crime in the Northern Capeâ€™s Crime Prevention through music, dancing, drama, poetry and debate programme was another multi-disciplinary project that was awarded a Supporting Grant. This takes place from late January 2011 and runs until December 2011. The Vodacom Foundation in association with Avusa Media, has also selected Business Against Crime Northern Cape as part of its Change The World initiative which gives10 people the opportunity to work at one of 10 South African-based charitable organisations, for six months, and be paid for it.

More multi-disciplinary arts are benefiting from a Business and Arts South Africa Supporting Grant â€“ this time the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre Summer Season 2010 â€“ 2011, sponsored by Distell Foundation. Taking place from the end of November to March 2011, the season includes ballet, poetry and all-manner of music genres.

Another recipient is the Joburg Child Welfareâ€™s innovative New Beginnings: 100 Doors Project, for sponsorship received from Otis. It sees artists donating their work pro-bono for a fundraising initiative that was initiated as part of JCWâ€™s centenary year. New Beginnings: 100 Doors is joined in receiving a Business and Arts South Africa Supporting Grant by Durbanâ€™s Stable Theatre. The theatre made the application for a supporting grant for its Nkanyezi music theatre show in association with sponsor Johnnie Walker. This was part of Welcome Msomniâ€™s commitment to give his prize money as winner of the Arts category in the Johnnie Walker Celebrating Strides Awards to the Stable Theatre.

Other recipients were the Kulula.com-sponsored La Rosa Spanish Dance Theatreâ€™s dance project Sentimientos; the Coca-Cola-sponsored National School of the Artsâ€™ Festival of Fame 2011, and Bioskop @ 20h00, a Newtown-based film festival that allows emerging filmmakers and others to showcase their work at sponsor, Koâ€™spotong.

The deadline for the next round of Business and Arts South Africa Supporting Grants for the 2010/2011 financial year is on 18 January 2011. Available on www.basa.co.za, the Grant forms are designed to encourage the two partners to work together and identify areas of potential benefit. This is in keeping with the organisationâ€™s belief in taking arts projects from â€œseed to strength to sustainability.â€

For more information visit www.basa.co.za or call 011-832-3000/3039.