Call for entries: 2020 National Eisteddfod Academy season in SA

The NEA creates opportunities for youth development in the arts where young performers can develop and showcase their talent across the full spectrum of artistic and cultural diversity. The programme includes classical and contemporary music, dance, drama and visual arts, among others.

Participants will have a choice of three options:

• Live performance – at a selected venue and in line with the requirements of the lockdown level at that time, which include maintaining social distancing by limiting the number of participants in any given session and following the required sanitising protocol. In the event of a worst-case scenario where no live performances will be allowed, all participants that selected the 'live' performance option will be virtually adjudicated.
• Virtual performance – the virtual performance mode will retain some of the excitement present in live performances: it will be adjudicated in real time on an online platform, and participants will be able to watch the performances of other participants, and the adjudicators will provide feedback at the end of each session. The minimum requirements for a virtual performance include access to a smart phone, a stable internet connection and data.
• Video recorded performance – an alternative will be provided for participants in remote areas and other areas where a stable internet connection is not available.

The NEA has implemented a new online platform where interested learners can contact members of the NEA adjudicator’s forum for the purpose of virtual online training in the arts. The aim of the platform is it is to provide for those learners who have no alternative solution.

Selections of poetry in African languages, Afrikaans and English from previous NEA syllabi have been published on the online entry website. The poems can be used by learners who would like to prepare themselves for participation.

Provisions have been put in place for whatever eventualities may arise from the prevailing lockdown level, and the NEA has introduced a new option for young performers. In addition to video-recorded entries, the NEA will now also be utilising technology to provide a virtual platform for participation.

“It really must be kept in mind that for many learners, in many schools throughout the country, the arts are their chosen passion,” NEA CEO Dr Francois van den Berg said.

“Taking part in eisteddfods benefits all participants, it fulfils a basic human need for respect and recognition and provides the aspiring performers with the opportunity to perform onstage, to receive feedback from expert adjudicators, and most of all, it gives anyone in the country an opportunity to experience the magic of the arts.”

Actual activity dates will only be determined once more information regarding the school terms is available. However, the prevailing lockdown level will also be a determining factor.

The application deadline is 31 July, with the possibility of a further extension if needed.

Full details regarding video and virtual entries will be provided on the webpage soon.

Registered institutions and participants can find more information on the 2020 NEA Prospectus here.

For enquiries, contact the NEA office on 011 886 6005, fax 011 787 3534 or email info@eisteddfod.co.za.