Open call: Arts and Culture Trust Nyoloha Scholarship Programme

The call is designed for young singers, dancers, actors or visual and digital artists between the ages of 17 and 25 who qualify for tertiary studies. One successful applicant in each category, i.e. performing arts and visual or digital arts, will have an opportunity to receive discipline-focused training and mentorship and a scholarship valued at R300 000 (about $16 000) to start their studies in the 2025 academic year.

The goal of the scholarship is to support individuals in obtaining their first qualification in the performing, visual and digital arts at a South African tertiary institution or an ACT-accredited institution. The 2024 iteration of the ACT NSP will have a strong focus on the inclusion of immersive technologies in the performing and visual or digital arts and explore domestic and international employability options for participants. The programme will enable key skills and knowledge transfer in participants’ choice of discipline – i.e. singing, acting, dance, visual or digital art – and ensure that they become well-versed in the technical and artistic aspects of mixed reality and AI tools.

Application process

Category 1

• Visual and digital arts: Candidates must prepare to submit portfolios as specified in the application guidelines document.

Category 2

• Performing arts: Candidates must prepare to submit a two-minute video in which they perform in their selected discipline (i.e. singing, acting or dance).

More on application process

• ACT will be accepting a total intake of 80 participants for this year’s scholarship programme and a total of 15 participants for the training programme.
• Parental or guardian consent is required when applying to audition for a spot on the 2024 scholarship programme.
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited for virtual interviews via Zoom in April 2024.
• The programme comprises bi-weekly online training and mentorship with industry insiders.
• Participants must engage actively and participate in tasks, which will be evaluated monthly using a rating system.
• The top 15 candidates across all disciplines will be the finalists and will compete in a gala performance showcase and visual or digital arts exhibition.
• The finalists will be brought to Johannesburg and hosted for a full week with all expenses paid in preparation for the gala performance and exhibition.
• The winners in each of the two categories will be revealed at the gala performance and exhibition event.

Who may not participate

• Professional artists or performers.
• Those who already have an arts qualification.
• Those who are already registered with a tertiary institution.

Interested artists should apply here before 5 April.

“The ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme not only provides tertiary opportunities for emerging artists, but also nurtures their professional and individual development,” ACT interim CEO Jessica Denyschen said. “Personal development, together with the life skills learned throughout the duration of the programme, is life-changing for so many candidates. We therefore encourage young people who are serious about a career in the arts to apply.”

View the original call here.