National Arts Council Funding for South Africa's Creative Community

The National Arts Council (NAC) is a statutory body established in 1997 under Act No. 56 of 1997 to support, develop, and promote the arts across South Africa. Operating under the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), the NAC provides non-repayable grants to individual artists, arts organisations, community art centres, and students studying towards arts qualifications.

The NAC funds projects that educate, entertain, and enlighten audiences, with a strong emphasis on transformation, redress, indigenous art forms, and community impact. Funding is awarded annually through a competitive application process reviewed by independent panels of experts in each arts discipline.

Project Funding

Up to R350,000

per annual project

Org Support

Up to R1 Million

3-year funding cycle

Bursaries

UG & PG

local and international

Disciplines

7 Arts Fields

craft to multidiscipline

Three Funding Streams

R350K

maximum per project

Annual Project Funding

Open to individual artists, registered organisations, and community art centres. One application per person or entity per funding cycle. Projects must run for a maximum of 12 months and demonstrate community impact. The 2026-2027 call closes 13 March 2026.

Individuals + Orgs

R1 Million

3-year funding cycle

Arts Organisation Support

For registered arts organisations and companies that need sustained multi-year support. Requires a three-year business plan. Recipients cannot apply for Annual Project Funding or PESP during the three-year period. Includes a service level agreement with the NAC.

Organisations Only

Bursaries

undergraduate & postgraduate

Student Bursaries

Individual and block institutional bursaries for students studying towards arts qualifications. Covers tuition, living costs, study materials, travel, and research. Local postgraduate bursaries prioritise academic merit, financial need, and community impact. SA citizens only.

Students Only

Funded Disciplines

The NAC funds projects and bursaries across seven arts disciplines. Applications presenting content in South African indigenous art forms and intellectual property capacity building are particularly encouraged.

Craft Dance Literature Music Theatre & Musical Theatre Visual Arts Multidiscipline

Six Critical Focus Areas

Every project must address at least two of the NAC's six focus areas. These guide funding decisions across all disciplines and streams.

Social Cohesion & Nation Building

Projects that bring communities together and foster national unity through creative expression.

Marginalised & Indigenous Arts

Uplifting rural and underrepresented communities through indigenous artistic expression and heritage preservation.

Addressing Social Ills

Using the arts to confront issues such as xenophobia, gender-based violence, crime, drug abuse, and gangsterism.

Vulnerable Groups

Supporting the involvement of women, youth employment opportunities, and people living with disabilities.

Innovation & Digital Arts

Encouraging innovation, digital arts, technology-driven creative practices, and new artistic formats.

Skills & Arts Entrepreneurship

Capacity building in arts management, entrepreneurship, business skills, and intellectual property awareness.

2026-2027 Annual Project Funding Call Now Open

The NAC's annual call for the 2026-2027 financial year is open. Applications close Friday 13 March 2026 at 23:59. Apply online through the Grants Management System. If you do not have internet access, request a manual application form from [email protected]. Only one application per person or organisation. Maximum funding: R350,000.

Eligibility & Documents

Eligibility

South African citizen (individuals) or registered South African entity (organisations)
Active practitioner in one of the 7 funded arts disciplines
Project addresses at least 2 of the 6 critical focus areas
Only one application per individual or organisation per cycle
Project must run for a maximum of 12 months
Administrative costs must not exceed 15% of total budget (or be justified)
NAC Advisory Panel and Council members are not eligible during their term
Projects involving children must include police clearance and parental consent

Application Checklist

Completed application form (online via GMS portal)
Detailed project proposal with timeline and milestones
Itemised budget showing all costs and other funding sources
Certified copy of ID (individual) or CIPC registration (organisation)
Portfolio, CV, or track record of previous arts work
Letters of support or partnership agreements (if applicable)
Police clearance certificate (if project involves children or vulnerable groups)
Three-year business plan (for Arts Organisation Support applications only)

How to Apply

Register on the Grants Management System

Create your account at nac.praxisgms.co.za. This is the only way to apply online. If you cannot access the internet, email [email protected] to request a manual form.

Select Your Funding Stream & Discipline

Choose whether you are applying for Annual Project Funding, Arts Organisation Support, or a Bursary. Select the discipline that best matches your proposed project.

Complete Your Application

Fill in all required sections of the application form. Describe your project clearly, explain how it addresses at least 2 of the 6 critical focus areas, provide a detailed budget, and upload all supporting documents.

Submit Before the Deadline

For the 2026-2027 Annual Project Funding call, submit by Friday 13 March 2026 at 23:59. Late and incomplete applications are not considered, with no exceptions.

Panel Review & Outcomes

Independent panels of discipline experts review all applications and make recommendations to the NAC Council. Successful applicants are notified. If you are declined, you will receive a Non-Compliance Letter with contact details for your Arts Development Officer for feedback.

PESP 6: Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme

The NAC also administers the PESP for arts and culture, a government initiative to create employment for artists, creatives, heritage sector workers, and cultural workers following COVID-19's impact on the sector. PESP 6 funds projects that create employment opportunities with a multiplier effect beyond the arts sector itself. Disciplines include craft, dance, literature, multidiscipline, music, musical theatre, and visual arts. All PESP projects must conclude by 31 March 2026. Contact [email protected] or call 011 010 8850 for details.

One Application Per Funding Cycle

You may only submit one application, whether as an individual or on behalf of an organisation. Organisations that receive Arts Organisation Support Funding are not eligible for Annual Project Funding or PESP during the three-year support period. Declare all other sources of funding in your application. The NAC reserves the right to allocate funds according to its priorities, and no applicant is automatically entitled to funding.

Common Questions

Is there a minimum amount I can apply for?

No. There is no set minimum amount for Annual Project Funding applications. The maximum is R350,000. For Arts Organisation Support, the maximum is R1,000,000 over three years. The NAC allocates according to its priorities, and you may receive less than the amount requested.

Can I apply as a group or collective?

If several people are working collaboratively on a project, one member of the group should take the lead in submitting the application. The application should describe all collaborators and their roles, but only one person applies. Alternatively, the group can register as an organisation and apply on the organisation's behalf.

Can students apply for project funding instead of bursaries?

Students can apply for individual bursaries (local or international, undergraduate or postgraduate). Bursaries cover tuition, living costs, study materials, travel, and research. If a student has a specific arts project unrelated to their studies, they may also apply for Annual Project Funding, but remember you can only submit one application per cycle.

What happens if my application is incomplete?

It will not be considered. The NAC is strict: late and incomplete applications are rejected with no exceptions. Applicants who do not comply with funding guidelines receive a Non-Compliance Decline Letter before the official outcome date, giving them time to seek other funding.

Can I apply for NAC funding if I already received funding from another source?

Yes, but you must declare all other sources of funding in your application. The NAC encourages applicants to seek additional funding, as NAC support often covers only part of a project's total cost. Transparency about other funding sources is essential.

When will I hear if my 2026-2027 application was successful?

For the 2025-2026 cycle, outcomes were announced by 17 October 2025. The 2026-2027 cycle is expected to follow a similar timeline. If you do not hear from the NAC by the announced outcome date, you should consider your application unsuccessful. Declined applicants can contact the Arts Development Officer listed in their decline letter for feedback.

Important Links & Resources

Official NAC portals, application systems, and programme information.

NAC Grants Management System

NAC Official Website

nac.org.za - News, guidelines, contacts

2026-2027 Project Funding Call

Official call notice and guidelines

Funding Overview

All funding types, criteria, and caps

DSAC: NAC Profile

Department of Sport, Arts and Culture

2026 Bursary Call

Block institutional bursary applications

grantZA is an independent informational guide and is not affiliated with the National Arts Council, DSAC, or any government department. For official enquiries, contact the NAC at [email protected] or call 011 010 8886.