Funding opportunities for South African musicians

According to Music In Africa’s Revenue Streams for Music Creators in South Africa 2022 report, Grants and Funding represents a significant income source. While it is important to bear in mind that this data was collected during a period heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic – when funding opportunities were more widely available – the following average monthly income figures show the importance of Grants and Funding to the music sector in South Africa:

• Governmental grants and relief programmes: R31 975
• Academic grants: R18 375
• NGO grants: R13 584

Funding from collective management organisations

The two collective management organisations (CMOs) in South Africa that provide funding for their members are the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) and the South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA).

SAMRO is the official performing rights organisation (PRO) in South Africa. Mandated to collect performance royalties, SAMRO and the associated SAMRO Foundation have several funding opportunities available:

• SAMRO Music Creation Support Fund. Established in 2021, the Music Creation Support Fund gives members up to R25 000 in assistance funding for the creation of a musical work or project. The application is done online, and applicants need to submit compelling supporting work. Only 100 participants were accepted in the 2021 cohort.[1] 
• SAMRO Music Business Short Learning Programme (MBSLP) bursary: While this funding isn’t for music creation, SAMRO does offer various bursaries for aspiring musicians. The MBSLP is a course taught by Boston City College. Musicians learn the basics of the modern-day music industry, how music publishing works and organising events. This application is also completed online.

As the rules and submission guidelines tend to change for these funds, musicians should consult the latest eligibility criteria before applying. Follow SAMRO on social media for announcements about funding opportunities, and regularly check the news feed on its website for submission calls.

SAMPRA, on the other hand, is the CMO that collects needletime royalties in South Africa. SAMPRA has set up a range of funding opportunities for musicians:

• Travel and Touring. This fund is geared towards musicians who tour and travel locally and abroad. The fund typically covers road travel, car hire, accommodation and other band expenses associated with travel. The maximum amount covered by this fund is R100 000 (including VAT).[2] 
• Music Production. This fund is focused on helping to complete recording projects. It typically covers studio rental, mastering costs, session fees, per diems during recording sessions, etc. The maximum amount covered by the fund is R100 000 (including VAT), and musicians must meet the SAMPRA royalty payment threshold before applying.[3] 
• Sponsorship. The SAMPRA sponsorship fund provides financial backing for projects and events that are in line with SAMPRA’s vision and strategy. Three types of events are eligible for sponsorship funding: music awards, music workshops and musicals.[4] 
• Live Performances. SAMPRA also provides funding for live performances and associated expenses, such as venue hire, sound equipment rental, artist fees and marketing and promotion costs.[5]

Governmental and NGO funding resources

Both government departments and non-governmental entities (NGOs) have established funding opportunities for musicians in South Africa.

National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC)

The National Arts Council is an agency of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, with the mandate to develop, support, promote and progress the arts in South Africa.

NAC funding is typically for medium to large projects/organisations, with a minimum funding amount of R100 000 and a maximum amount of R500 000. However, individuals and students are also encouraged to apply for funding. Applications are made on the official NAC application form, or through the NAC’s Grants Management System.

Criteria

• Supported programmes. Music programmes need to respond to at least four of six criteria in order to be eligible for funding:[6]

1. Social cohesion and nation-building.
2. Unearthing marginalised and indigenous arts in rural areas.
3. Addressing social ills such as xenophobia and gender-based violence.
4. Supporting youth employment, women involvement and people living with disabilities.
5. New works created through digital media.
6. Capacity building and arts entrepreneurship

• Supported projects. Several types of projects are funded by the NAC. Funding opportunities for musicians may be for community outreach projects, conferences, exchange programmes in South Africa and abroad, music composition and music tuition. A comprehensive list of the types of projects can be found online. Touring projects are also funded, but need to contribute to the national profile of the NAC and add value to the lives of South Africans in general.[7]

NAC funding is substantial, thus extensive supporting documents, references and a business plan (where applicable) are required. Exceeding the minimum requirements is recommended, especially for less established musicians, for an extra edge when applying for NAC funding.

Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)

BASA was established in 1997 as a joint venture between the private and public sectors to assist, support and improve the arts in South Africa. BASA has different funding opportunities and grants available, based on current needs and relevant mandates from private sector stakeholders and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.[8]

• BASA Supporting Grants. This grant is designed for a cross-section of arts projects in different regions of the country. Grants are awarded to projects that are in an already-existing relationship between a business and an arts organisation. Musicians should visit the BASA website for new funding opportunities.

Arts & Culture Trust (ACT)

ACT is an independent arts and culture funding and development non-profit organisation. ACT has several funding opportunities and grants available for musicians:[9]

• ACT Development Grants. The development grant is targeted at different spheres of art and encourages interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary works. New media or art forms are also encouraged. The grant ranges from R30 000 (for emerging artists/entities) to R80 000 for more established artists.
• ACT has other developmental, educational and networking programmes that may be of interest to musicians. Be sure to check the website regularly to browse the submission calls.

National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)

NYDA is a South African-based agency with the mandate to alleviate challenges faced by the nation’s youth (citizens aged 14 to 35 years).[10] NYDA has several funding options, from as little as R1 000 to as much as R200 000. The key aspect of NYDA funding is that it’s not music-specific. Musicians are suggested to be creative and produce proposals that serve NYDA’s wider mission.

• NYDA Grant Programme. The grant is focused on youth entrepreneurs who are at new stages of enterprise development. Applicants must apply at least three months before they turn 35 years of age. They must also have attended a business management training course (provided by NYDA), complete a 10-minute telephonic or in-person business pitch, and capture their information by registering on the NYDA Grant Programme application portal.[11]

Special mentions

Often, at times of specific need within the music industry, different stakeholders will step in to provide funding that addresses the particular problem or concern.

• YouTube Black Voices Fund. This fund is geared towards creators of colour that are either active on the platform, or have their music uploaded on YouTube.[12]
• Relief funds. CMOs and governmental agencies occasionally provide relief funding, depending on the state of the nation and global events. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, a relief fund of R150m was made available by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture for “artists, athletes and technical personnel and the core ecosystem that supports them.”[13]

Resources and citations 

• [1] SAMRO. (2021). SAMRO Music Creation Support Fund - Grants Awarded April 2021. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://samro.org.za/news/articles/samro-music-creation-support-fund-%E2%80%93-grants-awarded-april-2021 
• [2] SAMPRA. (2021). Travel & Touring - SAMPRA Development Fund. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://samprafund.co.za/travel-touring/ 
• [3] SAMPRA. (2021). Music Production - SAMPRA Development Fund. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://samprafund.co.za/music-production 
• [4] SAMPRA. (2021). Sponsorship - SAMPRA Development Fund. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://samprafund.co.za/sponsorship 
• [5] SAMPRA. (2021). Live Performances - SAMPRA Development Fund. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://samprafund.co.za/live-performances 
• [6] National Arts Council. (2021). “Who We Are - National Arts Council”. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://www.nac.org.za/who-we-are/ 
• [7] National Arts Council. (2021). “Supported Projects”. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://www.nac.org.za/project-funding 
• [8] Business and Arts South Africa. (2021). Supporting Grants - Business and Arts South Africa. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://basa.co.za/grants/supporting-grants/ 
• 9] Arts & Culture Trust. (2021). “What We Do”. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://act.org.za/ 
• [10] National Youth Development Agency. (2021). “What is NYDA?”. Accessed on January 11, 2022: http://www.nyda.gov.za/About-Us/What-is-NYDA 
• [11] National Youth Development Agency. (2021). NYDA Grant Programme. Accessed on January 11, 2022: http://www.nyda.gov.za/Products-Services/NYDA-Grant-Programme 
• [12] Youtube. (2021). Black Voices. Youtube Creators. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://www.youtube.com/creators/black-voices-fund/ 
• [13] UNESCO. (2020). “Relief fund for South African artists, athletes and technical personnel”. Accessed on January 11, 2022: https://en.unesco.org/creativity/covid-19/relief-fund-south-african-artists-athletes 

This article is part of the Revenue Streams for African Musicians project, supported by UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity in the framework of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the Siemens Cents4Sense programme, Siemens Stiftung, Goethe-Institut, the National Arts Council of South Africa and Kaya FM. 

Editing by David Cornwell and Kalin Pashaliev