Call for applications: SAMPRA Development Fund in SA

Eligibility

The SAMPRA Development Fund will consider applications from SAMPRA members and professionals who require funding for projects and/or events that are aligned with SAMPRA’s vision and strategic objectives:

• Music awards.
• Music workshops.
• Musicals.
• All South African recording artists, record companies, industry bodies, allied industries, academic institutions, government organisations, exhibitors, and event and production companies whose projects and events are aligned with SAMPRA’s vision and strategic objectives.
• All applicants must submit a detailed business plan, sponsorship proposal detailing clearly SAMPRA’s return on investment, profiles of directors where applicable, and a portfolio of previous events hosted by the entity or individual.

Application

Applications can only be made during the open window, as determined and announced by the fund annually. The project may not have started before the deadline of submission of applications. The board of the fund will decide on the granting of the applications within three months following the last day of submission of applications. The decision of the board of the fund on an application shall be final and not reviewable or appealable.

The application deadline is 31 August.

Budget

The maximum amount an applicant can be awarded by the fund is:

• R50 000 inclusive of VAT for music workshops or similar.
• R70 000 inclusive of VAT for musicals or similar.
• R700 000 inclusive of VAT for music awards or similar.

The fund shall not finance more than 50% of the project or event’s total budget. Applications must relate only to costs that constitute the overall budget presented for the envisaged project or event.

Other sources of funding

The applicant is required to disclose in the application other sources of funding secured for the project, or hopes to secure for the project.

Application procedures:

• The application form must be completed in full and in English.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The applicant may be requested to provide supplementary documentation and information from time to time for processing the application.
• Failure to provide such information within a reasonable time frame may deem the application unsuccessful without further notice.
• The application form and all information submitted by the applicant will be retained for record and audit purposes and will not be returned to the applicant.
• Applications received after the closing date for applications will not be considered.

NOTE: No application fee is payable.

Vetting procedures

Upon receipt of an application, the fund will conduct a preliminary screening and may seek clarification or supplementary information from the project applicant. Failure to provide such information within a reasonable time frame will deem the application to be unsuccessful without further notice. The project applicant may be required to attend assessment panel meetings to present their applications and answer questions.

Assessment criteria

The board shall select grant recipients based on the individual merits of each application.

The board reserves the right to reject an application on grounds, including, but not limited:

• Applications that are incomplete or contain incorrect information or fail to comply with the requirements set out in these rules.
• A petition is presented, or a proceeding is commenced, or an order is made, or a resolution is passed for the winding up, or bankruptcy of the project applicant.
• A false, inaccurate or incomplete statement or representation is contained in the application or a promise of performance is made knowingly or recklessly that it will not be able to fulfil or deliver such promise or performance.
• The project applicant is in default of its obligation(s) under other project agreements with the fund.

Project agreement

If an application is approved, a letter of approval will be sent to the applicant. The letter of approval will set out the amount of funding support to be offered, as well as the terms and conditions applicable to the funding. The successful applicant will be required to sign and return the acceptance of the offer attached in the letter of approval to the fund within the period specified therein (offer period). The fund shall be deemed to have withdrawn the offer to make the proposed funding support to a successful applicant if the fund does not receive the duly signed acceptance of offer on or before the expiry of the offer period, as set out in the letter of approval.

Disbursement of approved funding support

• The first instalment will only be effected after the project agreement has been duly signed and the project applicant has submitted all the required documents.
• The approved funding support will be disbursed by instalments on satisfactory performance of appropriate milestones, and strictly in accordance with the terms and conditions as set out in the project agreement.
• The fund’s board reserves the right to withhold any further payment to the project if some money cannot be accounted for, or if there is any delay in submission of the completion report or the completion report does not comply with the fund’s requirements.

Finished product

The beneficiary shall provide progress reports to the fund and complete the project within the timelines stated in the application for funding.

Publicity and acknowledgment

• The project applicant shall acknowledge the funding support from the fund and SAMPRA in all its publicity/media events as well as in publications (including but not limited to press releases, promotional literature, websites, etc.) issued to promote the project.
• Successful applicants shall be required to include the SAMPRA and fund logos in all music productions created with financial support from the fund. The logos are available upon request at info@samprafund.co.za. However, SAMPRA and the fund reserve the right to require the project applicant to immediately cease and desist from using any promotional materials in which any reference to SAMPRA and the fund is found. The following disclaimer must also be included in any publications and media events related to the funded project – SAMPRA and the SAMPRA Development Fund provide funding support to the project only, and do not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of SAMPRA and/or the SAMPRA Development Fund.
• The project applicant shall provide the fund with details of the project achievements, including successful marketing and commercialisation of the project deliverables and awards.
• The fund and SAMPRA shall be entitled to provide the name of the applicant(s), a description of the project, and the value of the funding that has been provided in their publicity and reports. Such forms of publicity will include www.samprafund.co.za and www.sampra.org.za as well as any of the SAMPRA Group magazines.

Read more here.