For immediate release Johannesburg, 25 May 2020

NAC Provides Relief Funding to 2019/20 beneficiaries The National Arts Council (NAC) continues to support all artists who received NAC funding in the 2019/20 funding cycle, despite some projects being postponed or cancelled due to Covid-19.

South Africa’s national lockdown, aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, means all theatres, cinemas, art galleries, film sets and many other creative spaces are closed for the foreseeable future. This means many artists are unable to bring projects to a close.

The NAC council has mandated the executive committee to pay all funded beneficiaries who have claimed a first tranche of NAC funding, but have been unable to produce the work required to claim a second tranche, a flat rate of 25% of the balance of the sum due to them.

Similarly, those who have claimed the first and second tranches of their funding will be paid a flat rate of 25% of the balance of the sum due to them. The rationale for the 25% figure is that this is the upper limit of acceptable expenditure on operations, overheads and administration. Where a project has already been completed to the NAC’s satisfaction, the beneficiary or beneficiaries will be paid in full.

This continued support of South Africa’s artists is in line with the actions taken by similar organisations across the world.

The NAC thanks all South African artists for their generosity of spirit and patience during this time. We are aware that there are many more people working in our creative industries than just the artists we see on stage or whose work we see in galleries. We look forward to the day when digital creativity ignites imaginations, hardwires local talent, transforms digital experiences and secures future creative livelihoods beyond the face to face.