R2 million allocated for grant-in-aid funding
Applications for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture’s Grant-In-Aid funding, which assists emerging arts and culture organisations, are now open. Non-profit groups and cooperatives aimed at the youth, women and children as well as people living with disabilities in the province are also encouraged to apply.
The Department has allocated R2 million for this initiative in this current financial year. Distribution of these funds will be administered by the KZN Arts and Culture Council and is dependent on a number of criteria including that the projects must be sustainable and must create job opportunities. Demarcation, in terms of the districts, will also play a role to ensure that organisations across KZN are considered. The council will conduct unplanned visits to beneficiaries to ensure the funds are used correctly.
Selected organisations will be allocated between R30 000 and R60 000. Up and coming groups will receive 50%, intermediate 30% and established organizations 20%. The funds will go towards equipment, training, stipends, raw material, audit fees, travelling expenses and production costs.
Groups that have been funded twice will not be considered, with the exception of organisations in rural areas that have shown significant merit. The Department will also not consider organisations that require funding for ongoing administrative or operating costs, purchasing vehicles and office equipment, religious, military or police activities, building or renovating an existing facility, among other things.
Interested parties can collect application forms from the Department’s regional offices (Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Ladysmith and uLundi) or download them from the Department’s website. The deadline for submissions is 31 May 2015.
“We aim to uplift communities and the arts sector as a whole through initiatives such as this programme, “ said MEC Ntombikayise SIbhidla-Saphetha.
For more information please contact Lethukuthula Mtshali 081 037 8321
