Mmino, South African-Norwegian music cooperation, invites music education and exchange projects to apply for funding.

Mmino, which is housed at the National Arts Council in Johannesburg, announces its funding session for the year 2010. Mmino is linked to the NAC - but has a separate budget and funding procedure- and works in partnership with the Norwegian Rikskonsertene in Oslo. Mmino provides funding to music education and music exchange projects (between Norway and SA and SA and SADC countries) and attempts to establish and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships between Norway and South Africa.

Application forms are available at the Mmino office or can be downloaded from www.mmino.org.za. The closing date for this funding session is 25 February 2010 at 12h00. Application is open to both organisations and individuals. Completed applications can be delivered to the Mmino office (66, Margaret Mcingana Street, Newtown) or sent to Box 500, Newtown 2113. Faxed, e-mailed, incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.

Please note that this is the only funding session in 2010.

Only projects within the fields of music education such as community outreach projects, workshops and tuition and music exchange between South Africa and Norway or South Africa and the SADC region will be considered.

Projects addressing the following are invited to apply:

1. Music Education:

- The teaching of music in all musical styles at community-based centres especially targeting disadvantaged youth
- Music industry education in a South African context
- Music technology education
- Education and information, geared at the youth, on issues such as HIV/Aids, women and children abuse, racism, etc. through music.
- Indigenous / South African music knowledge transfer
- Preservation of South African music genres
- Interaction between South Africans and Norwegians as well as between South Africans and the peoples of the Southern African Region (SADC) within the field of music.
- Exchange that directly serve the needs of a project
- Empowerment of the South African live music scene
- Addressing the specific needs of the South African music industry

Mmino’s evaluation criteria are:

- A long term perspective and sustainability of the project
- Focus on strengthening of African musical cultures
- Effectiveness on a national level
- Contribution to the social and economic upliftment of South Africa
- Targeting of youth, disadvantaged and marginalised groups
- Long term cooperation with Norwegian institutions and organisations
- Stimulation of regional and cross-cultural cooperation within South Africa
- Development of links with the SADC countries

Please note that the Mmino Programme Committee will not consider funding the following:

- bursaries
- musical theatre or dance productions
- production or recording of commercial CD’s/ DVD’s
- promotional performances
- promotion or marketing of a musician, band or orchestra
- talent searches and/or competitions
- purchase of musical instruments, uniforms, sound or office equipment
- running costs of buildings/centres
- music therapy projects
- teaching of music within the formal education sector
- projects based upon race, religion or creed
- NAC-funded projects that are uncompleted
- exchange with any other countries than Norway and SADC

For further information please contact the project coordinator: phone 011 838 1383 / e-mail mmino@nac.org.za

Business and Arts South Africa releases valuable ARTSTRACK Research 2009

Arts sponsorship has more than doubled since 2001 when the arts market was estimated at around R136 million, growing to nearly R360 million in 2009. Of this, music sponsorship attracts nearly 50% of all the sponsorship spend (R173 million in 2009) with the balance going to all other arts and culture initiatives.

This being one of the key findings of ARTSTRACK research 2009 – Business and Arts South Africa’s bi-annual authoritative study on the arts and culture market in South Africa.

Conducted nationally over a period of two and a half months other key findings from ARTSTRACK 2009 are:

The long-term planning of sponsors in the field of Arts and Culture is also underscored by the findings on the importance of children learning about Arts and Culture – and not just Sport. The results showed that a clear majority of those sampled would like to see their children learning equally about both – an increase from 2007’s research.

39% of consumers felt the costs of attending Arts and Culture Events (ranging from Movies to Traditional Dance, Museums, Exhibitions and Ballet) were too high – an increase in three points on 2007’s findings. “This is, of course, coming in a year in which the economic recession hit hard but I think is something that should be looked at by sponsors and arts and culture practitioners,” Business and Arts South Africa CEO Michelle Constant commented.

Communities take notice and support sponsors that are investing in projects of value to them; and as well as sponsors uplifting and support communities. According to Constant, this supports the King Three Report, which highlights the need for corporate citizenship through CSI.

In a spontaneous question that asked respondents to name an Arts and Culture sponsor in South Africa, Standard Bank received the most mentions followed by ABSA then MTN. (The full list of 19 spontaneously-recalled sponsors is available in the research) According to sponsors themselves, the companies regarded as sponsorship leaders are Standard Bank, Absa and Nedbank.

The belief that government has a significant funding responsibility to develop and support Arts and Culture.

Music topped the list of 12 disciplines supported that included festivals, museums, theatre, movies, traditional dance, crafts, literature, sculpture/paintings/photography, opera, contemporary dance and ballet.

The biggest contribution now comes from Marketing Budgets.

The 2009 research was especially revealing in the attitude of non-sponsors of Arts and Culture. In particular, non-sponsors gave a detailed list of their ideal sponsorship - which included a relationship in which both parties benefit equally, community upliftment, strong brand awareness, contribution to the company’s BEE scorecard, and ability to be measured.

According to Constant, “A great deal of valuable information emerged from the research – including how culture can be used as a tool for tourism. This is particularly interesting in 2010 with the FIFA World Cup bringing so many visitors to our country.”

“What I found interesting were the comments from business on how they believe we can make the Arts and Culture environment more attractive to sponsoring companies,” says Constant. “As Business and Arts South Africa we are already working on some of the suggestions which we hope will see an increase in Arts and Culture sponsorship in 2010 and beyond.”

ARTSTRACK 2009 gives good insight into sponsorship of arts and culture in South Africa and is a powerful research tool for anyone interested in sponsorship in the Arts market in South Africa.

Scope:

The consumer ARTSTRACK Research 2009 covered a wide spectrum – ranging from the frequency and types of events South African adults attend in the field of Arts and Culture to attitudes towards, and awareness of sponsors, and the role of government.

It also offers insight into the size of the Arts and Culture sponsorship market, the nature and length of contracts, budget issues, sponsorship objectives amongst other issues. Companies not involved in sponsoring Arts and Culture were also probed on other sponsor activities, sponsorship preferences and their reasons for not sponsoring Arts and Culture.

Methodology:

Conducted by leading South African sponsorship company, BMI, the methodology was based on consumer research amongst a total sample of 1950 adult (over 18 years) South Africans. The one-on-one, interviews took place nationally, covering individuals from South Africa’s diverse background. For specific business research, Business and Arts South African members were also surveyed as well as a number of non-Arts and Culture sponsoring companies.

The bi-annual Business and Arts South Africa ARTSTRACK Research is available to all members of Business and Arts South Africa.

For enquiries on the Business and Arts South Africa ARTSTRACK Research 2009 contact Beverly Reddy on 011 832 3039. For more information about Business and Arts South Africa programmes please visit www.basa.co.za.

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is pleased announce support from Breadline Africa (BLA) for arts festivals in the form of ACT | BLA Fringe Grants.

“The aim of these grants is to assist organisers of South African festivals to extend their programmes by providing support specifically to facilitate the participation of artists, performers and groups from peri-urban and rural areas,” explains Ashraf Johaardien, general manager of ACT.

Festivals taking place between 1 April and 15 November 2010 are eligible to apply for support and successful applicants will be awarded grants up to a maximum of R50 000. At least 90% of the grant must be utilised to cover the costs of registration fees, venue/equipment hire, transport and accommodation of the designated groups. The remaining 10% may be utilised to cover the costs of administering the grant.

BLA is an African-based charity organisation which aims to help break the cycle of poverty within Africa by helping communities to help themselves. BLA supports projects which will make a permanent difference in the lives of communities affected by extreme poverty in Africa: hunger, homelessness, lack of skills-training and unemployment. BLA encourages communities to achieve long-term self-sustainability and seeks out partnerships of hope and growth in Africa in order to connect people who are struggling to achieve the most basic living conditions with others who are more fortunate and in a position to make a difference. To this end ACT | BLA Fringe Grants aim to assist impoverished communities that are engaged in arts, culture and heritage to realise their full potential.

Application guidelines for ACT | BLA Fringe Grants may be downloaded from www.act.org.za/programmes_festival.htm. The deadline for applications is Monday 22 February 2010.

The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is South Africa’s premier, independent arts funding and development agency. For more information go to www.act.org.za.

Mmino, the South African - Norwegian music cooperation provides funding to music education and exchange projects

Mmino, the South African –  Norwegian music cooperation which is housed at the National Arts Council in Johannesburg, announces its second funding session for the year 2009. Mmino provides funding to music education and – exchange projects (between Norway & SA and SA & SADC countries) and attempts to establish and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships between Norway and South Africa.

Application forms are available at the Mmino office or can be downloaded from the website www.mmino.org.za. The closing date for this funding session is 12 August 2009 at 12h00. Only applications on the official Mmino application form will be considered and faxed or emailed forms are not accepted. The forms can be delivered to the Mmino office (66, Margaret Mcingana Street, Newtown) or sent to P.O. Box 500, Newtown 2113.

 
PROJECTS ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING ARE INVITED TO APPLY

1. Music Education:

• Teaching of music in all musical styles at community-based centres especially targeting disadvantaged youth 
• Education in a professional or semi-professional context addressing issues related to the South African music industry.  
• Music technology. 
• Education and information, geared at the youth, on issues such as hiv/aids, women and children abuse, etc. through music. 
• Indigenous / South African music knowledge transfer

 
2. Exchange:

• Interaction between South Africans and Norwegians as well as between South Africans and the peoples of the Southern African Region (SADC) within the field of music. 
• Exchange that directly serves the needs of a project 
• Empowerment of the South African live music scene 
• Addressing the specific needs of the South African music industry

 
Please note that the Mmino Programme Committee will not consider funding the following:  
o bursaries 
o musical theatre or dance productions 
o production or recording of commercial CD’s/ DVD’s  
o promotional performances  
o promotion or marketing of a musician, band or orchestra 
o talent searches and/or competitions 
o purchase of musical instruments, uniforms, sound or office equipment 
o running costs of buildings/centres 
o music therapy projects 
o teaching of music within the formal education sector  
o  projects based upon race, religion or creed 
o NAC-funded projects that are uncompleted 
o exchange with any other countries than Norway and SADC

 
For further information please contact the project coordinator: phone 011 838 13 83 / e-mail mmino@nac.org.za