The PESP is a special government initiative geared towards employment creation for artists, creatives, heritage sector workers and cultural workers following the impact of COVID-19 in the sector. PESP 5 aims to provide an economic stimulus to support sector initiatives that create jobs in the creative and cultural sectors. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that will create employment opportunities in the sector, as well as a multiplier effect in the creation of employment opportunities beyond the sector itself.
We hereby invite individual art practitioners and registered arts organisations, community arts centres and venues active in the disciplines of craft, dance, literature, multidiscipline, music, musical theatre, and visual arts to apply for funding. Only one application will be supported from both a natural person (individual) and a juristic person (organisation or company).
Projects should demonstrate the ability to be sustainable over a period of time.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for all types of arts or culture projects such as creation, composition, workshops, showcases, exhibitions, script writing, residencies, performances, and other art-related activities. Applications presenting content and offering training in South African Indigenous art forms and intellectual property are encouraged to apply. Proposed projects must demonstrate impact and value for the communities in which they are implemented.
Since this year marks 30 years of democracy in South Africa, applicants are also encouraged to propose projects to celebrate this milestone.
Funding thresholds are as follows:
TYPE OF PROJECT | PROJECT
AMOUNT ALLOCATION |
NUMBER OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES CREATED |
MAJOR ART OR CULTURE PROJECT |
Allocation of up to R800 000 |
Applications must propose at least 80 job opportunities including the number of artists to be employed, national footprint, capacity building, audience development, focus on youth participation and inclusion of vulnerable groups. |
VENUES | Allocation of up to R500 000 | Applications must propose at least 50 job opportunities including the number of artists to be employed, capacity building, audience development focus and a bias on marginalised arts and vulnerable groups. |
OTHER ARTS OR CULTURE PROJECT | Allocation of up to
R300 000 |
Applications will be assessed based on the artistic merit of the project at the discretion of panel members, and should focus on youth and vulnerable groups as Beneficiaries. |
Applications requesting more than the maximum allocation budget as indicated above will not be considered. |