South Africa: ACT CEO bows out

“It has been an immense privilege to have been at the helm of the Trust, making a meaningful difference in the lives of so many artists during my tenure,” Jacobs, who has been offered a new position in the arts and culture landscape, said.

“It has been truly rewarding and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to play a role in the evolution of the trust for such a significant period of its existence. Over the years, I have worked alongside some excellent colleagues and many remarkable trustees who have served on ACT’s rotating board and to whom I am tremendously grateful.”

ACT chairperson David Dennis praised Jacobs for his contribution to the organisation. “Pieter has played a vital role in ACT’s strategic planning over the past few years and under his stewardship the trust launched a number of new programmes,” Dennis said. “We thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best with his new venture,” said Dennis.

According to an ACT statement, Jacobs first joined the trust as a programmes manager in 2006. He subsequently went on to helm the ACT as CEO in 2010 and over the last seven years has consistently increased the amount of funding disbursed to arts, culture and heritage projects across South Africa. At the same time, the value of the trust’s investment portfolio has grown by more than 15%, the ACT said.

The ACT is South Africa’s an independent arts and culture funding and development agency. Since 1994 it has advanced its position towards becoming a self-sustaining perpetual fund for the continued development of arts and culture.

Meanwhile, the ACT board will call for applications to fill the vacancy of CEO in due course.