Call for applications: COVID-19 medical relief for creatives in SA

The grants are in honour of  Nelson Mandela who spent 67 years fighting for social justice.

Applicants interested in applying for a medical assistance can apply directly via the BASA official website by clicking the 'Grants’ tab and navigating to 'Artist Relief Grants'.

Grants will be awarded on a first-come basis to the first 67 eligible applicants, after which applications will close.

For enquiries, email artist.grants@basa.co.za or call 066 314 3374 during office hours.

“BASA champions business investment in the arts, cultural and heritage sectors,” BASA chairperson Charmaine Soobramoney said. “COVID-19 has forced the world to unite and fight against this invisible enemy. The BASA board of directors acknowledges the continued challenges artists are subjected to.”

BASA head of research and development, Madeleine Selmer-Olsen said: “We have raised just over half a million rand, bestowed by a range of individuals, businesses and academic institutions. This amount has been supplemented with funds redirected from other areas of operation to provide support to 122 individual artists."

BASA head of marketing and communications, Savannah Feeke-Fortune said the organisation's primary objective is the economic empowerment of South African creatives.

“Indeed, we could go as far as to say the arts have been critical to mental health and wellbeing. As such, we are proud to be providing further relief to the creatives whose livelihoods have experienced severe strain as a result of the pandemic,” Feeke-Fortune said.

View the original call here.