Following careful consideration and recommendations from the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Adjudication Panel, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has, in consultation with Minister Gayton McKenzie, made a decision to broaden the scope of MGE to allow for greater participation, access and public fairness.
The MGE is DSAC’s primary public funding mechanism for creative economy projects, with this year’s focus on ventures that will provide employment in showcasing the work of a range of artists, performers and other creatives on wide-ranging platforms.
Following the conclusion of the adjudication process, it has been decided that the MGE Unit will work on the use of a more user-friendly system, wherein access to the application process is more enabling, along with simplification of the MGE guidelines.
Touring Ventures that have already been adjudicated will not be affected due to time constraints for applicants who have applied successfully to attend and work at international events to which they were already invited.
Any new applicants, and those who would want to re-apply after being told that they were disqualified from consideration for various technical reasons, are now welcome to do so, in this new round of the Open Call.
The new Open Call will not rely on electronic submission during this round, manual submissions will run from 20 March 2025 to 11 April 2025. Applications will be submitted in each of the provinces to enable full access.
The design and application model will be finalised by 10 March 2025 and communicated to the public when the Call is issued.
The application closing dates will be clustered according to three provinces per day, so that officials from the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture can be physically present to receive and authenticate all applications.
Applicants who have already had their submissions accepted using the former electronic system need not reapply, though are welcome to do so, particularly if they would like to amend their submissions given that the MGE guidelines will be amended and expanded.
Further information will be shared on DSAC platforms in due course.
For media enquiries:
Ms. Stacey-Lee Khojane, Spokesperson: Office of the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
Email: StaceyK@dsac.gov.za
Cell: +27 77 608 7579
Ms Zimasa Velaphi, Head of Communication and Marketing: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
Email: ZimasaV@dsac.gov.za
Cell: +27 72 172 8925
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