Johannesburg: The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) has announced that applications are now open for funding arts projects for the 2026-2027 financial year. The council is inviting individual arts practitioners, registered arts organisations, and community art centres to apply for financial support, with the submission deadline set for next month.
According to South African Government News Agency, the NAC emphasizes that proposed projects should aim to educate, entertain, and enlighten audiences while demonstrating significant impact and value within their respective communities. The funding cap for each application is set at R350,000, and the allocation process will align with the NAC's redress and transformation goals. The NAC is a vital entity under the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, dedicated to funding and supporting artistic and cultural initiatives that enhance the country's creative economy and heritage.
The council has specified that only one application will be supported per applicant, regardless of whether it is submitted by an individual or an organization. The call for applications is open to practitioners in various disciplines, including craft, dance, literature, music, theatre, musical theatre, visual arts, and multidiscipline. Projects focusing on South African indigenous art forms and capacity-building initiatives in intellectual property are especially encouraged.
Applicants are required to address at least two of the six critical focus areas outlined by the NAC. These areas include social cohesion and nation-building, marginalised and indigenous arts, addressing social ills, supporting vulnerable groups, new works and digital arts, and capacity building and arts entrepreneurship. Each area targets specific societal needs and aims to foster unity, innovation, and economic opportunities within the arts sector.
The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, 13 March 2026, at 11:59 pm. Applicants are encouraged to register and complete the online application form, with manual applications available upon request for those without internet access. It is crucial to note that late and incomplete applications will not be considered, and guidelines for the funding process can be accessed on www.nac.org.za.