Open call: Concerts SA Mobility Fund

The callout is courtesy of the Festival Enterprise Catalyst (FEC) collective comprising the National Arts Festival, Concerts SA, SAMRO, NATi, the Tribuo Fund, the Klein Karoo Kunstefees, Aardklop, Woordfees, and Suidoosterfees. Together, the FEC has secured support from the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund to ensure that cultural work opportunities and mobility are encouraged and sustained.

What can be applied for?

Concerts SA is offering up to 60 music mobility subsidies for live music touring in South Africa and the Southern African region. Music industry professionals from all genres may apply for support of reasonable costs up to a maximum of R45 000 (about $2 555) related to the tour, including:

• Artist fees.
• Technical support fees (audio, visual etc).
• Equipment rental (not purchase of equipment).
• Transport costs.
• Accommodation.
• Venue costs.
• Artist and crew catering/per diems.
• Rehearsal costs (venue, artist fees, technical).

The subsidies have strict requirements:

• Tours must take place within the project implementation period: 1 February 2025 to 30 April 2025.
• Applicants must be South African citizens, or resident in South Africa with a valid work permit.
• Applicants must have an up-to-date listing with a detailed portfolio on Music In Africa.

Preference will be given to applications that include:

• South African tours: A minimum of two live music concerts which must take place in at least two provinces. This could include the province where applicants reside in and another province.

OR

• SADC tours: At least one live music concert in a SADC country other than South Africa. Participation in either a music workshop/discussion or an additional live performance will be advantageous. A supporting letter from the venue.
• SADC countries: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, eSwatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• The FEC is about the creation of jobs and work.  Applicants will be required to outline the number of paid work opportunities that their project will create. These can include musicians, technical teams, production support, etc.
• Applicants will be required to provide evidence of communication with the venues where they will perform, and include as evidence:
  • A supporting letter from the venue.
  • South African venues’ licensing compliance with SAMRO. If the venue is not licensed, inform the venue to apply for a licence at lesego.maforah@samro.org.za.
• Successful applicants will be required to commit to the stringent reporting requirements of the project’s stakeholders. A preliminary guide can be found here.

Preference will be given to:

• Applications from full and associate members of SAMRO.
• Applicants who will be presenting original music works.
• Applicants who coincide their tours with outreach efforts to public spaces like schools, hospitals, old age homes, airports, taxi ranks, prisons, etc.
• Securing additional partnerships/sponsorships for touring is encouraged. Applicants must disclose existing partners at the time of application, before concluding any further agreements. This is to prevent conflicts of interest with CSA and its stakeholders.

Interested applicants should apply here. Only online applications will be accepted.

View the original call here.