Open call: National Arts Council of South Africa 2025/2026 project funding

Applications should be from individual arts practitioners, registered arts organisations, and community arts centres working in the following disciplines:

• Music
• Dance
• Craft
• Literature
• Visual Arts
• Multidisciplinary Arts

Applicants may only submit one application, whether as an individual or on behalf of an organisation.

Focus areas

Eligible projects must address at least two (2) of the following critical focus areas:

• Social Cohesion and Nation Building: Bringing communities together and fostering national unity.
• Marginalised and Indigenous Arts: Uplifting rural and underrepresented communities through indigenous artistic expression.
• Addressing Social Ills: Using the arts to confront issues such as xenophobia, gender-based violence, crime, drug abuse, and gangsterism.
• Supporting Vulnerable Groups: Creating employment opportunities for women, people living with disabilities, and those in rural areas.
• New Works and Digital Arts: Encouraging innovation through digital platforms and contemporary presentation methods.
• Capacity Building and Arts Entrepreneurship: Enhancing skills and promoting business development within the sector.

Eligibility

Individuals

• Must be South African citizens aged 18 or above.
• May not be employed by a government department or entity.
• Applicants under the EPWP, CWP, internships or learnerships are eligible to apply.
• Projects may take place within South Africa, across Africa, or internationally.

Organisations

• Must be formally registered and led by South African citizens aged 18 or above.
• May not be owned or led by individuals employed by government departments or entities.
• EPWP, CWP, internships, and learnerships do not disqualify participants.
• Projects may be implemented locally, regionally, or abroad.

Types of projects funded

• Creation of new works
• Performances and productions
• Concerts and showcases
• Art and craft exhibitions
• Publishing and book fairs
• Skills development and training

Maximum funding per application: R350 000

Important notes

• Non-compliant applicants will receive a formal Non-Compliance Decline Letter prior to the official outcome date, enabling them to seek alternative funding.
• These letters will include contact information for relevant Arts Development Officers, who can be contacted for specific reasons for the decline.
• A spreadsheet listing project numbers and associated decline reasons will also be published for transparency.

Applications should be made here before 11 July 2025, with outcomes on 17 October 2025. For full application guidelines and to apply, click here. For enquiries, contact the NAC Arts Development team: info@nac.org.za or call 011 010 8886.

View the original call here.