Question NW1171 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
19 April 2022 - NW1171
Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
Whether his department has any plans to promote collaboration with different arts and cultural organisations to guide and mentor them on issues of investments and development in order to sustain their wellbeing; if not, what are the challenges in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. Yes, my Department has plans to promote collaboration with different arts and culture organisations. One such, being the Debut Programme, an initiative of the Department in partnership with Business and Arts South Africa (BASA (NPC), with over one hundred and sixty (160) private sector/corporate members.
BASA's purpose is to attract corporate sector investment, through financial or in-kind support of the arts and culture organizations, as well as individual artists, within South Africa
It seeks to develop emerging artists from rural and peri-urban communities towards launching their creative business ventures. The Programme provides them with knowledge, skills, funding, networking opportunities and mentoring support, and helps them leverage their artistic talent into agile, sustainable, and profitable enterprises.
Since its inception in July 2017, one hundred and forty-two (142) participants, graduated from the programme. Most of the participants identified as African, the majority are identified as male, and most (42.4%) were aged between 25 and 29.
One hundred and twenty (120) participants also launched their businesses online and have officially opened for business, which demonstrates the investment that the department has done through this incubator programme.