The Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP), brings together talented and ambitious young people from across the country, and introduces them to the world of professional arts. In partnership with the Nedbank Arts Affinity, the programme aims to enable South African youth to pursue excellence in their art, as well as create career-ready graduates through a 3-month online training and mentorship programme.
15 of the best-rated performers and visual artists are set to exhibit their art form at the NSP gala showcase, set to take place on 8 October 2022 in Johannesburg. This year’s theme is ‘What Matters?’,an approach that challenges participants to think about what matters to them as human beings and how that translates into their respective art forms.
The 2022 showcase will welcome all 9 ACT visual artists, namely Asemahle Madlingozi, Lethabo Modimola, Liam Rose, Matlala Chepape, Mukonazwothe Wang, Nondumiso Mbewe, Oteng Kopiso, Simphiwe Chambale, and Snesizwe Mahlalela, who have all been tasked with creating an art piece that not only shows the skills they have learnt, but also their understanding of this year’s theme. Three of the nine visual artists will also form part of the final 15 candidates that will be eligible to win the undergraduate scholarship.
Asemahle Madlingozi is a self-taught creative whose creative journey started at a young age. Madlingozi has received no formal training, but has used the power of the internet to create and compile a portfolio. ‘My aspiration as an artist is to create pieces that clearly showcase my skills and passion for art. Arts has been with me for as long as I can remember, and I want to expand and grow my artistic skills. I want to turn my natural talent into a career because I truly enjoy all forms of art,’ says Madlingozi.
Liam Rose is a 20-year-old visual artist who showed an interest in art and film from a young age. While studying at the National School of the Arts (NSA), Rose refined numerous artistic skills, achieved a strengthened understanding of art theory, and has become an artist with the ability to transform their interest into a passionate skillset. ‘Art truly has a way of impacting an audience, causing them to think and feel with every art piece they encounter. While I used my education to refine my skills, I want to further my studies to not only improve as an artist but to also pursue a career relating to animation, a medium of visual arts. Through animation, I want to create stories and generate the rush of emotion, passion, and connection I’ve experienced from viewing artworks myself. I want to provide an escape and enjoyment to those who view my artwork,’ says Rose.
As the art industry sees a rise in digital art forms, 22-year-old Oteng Kopiso wants to use their artistic skillset to help bring inspiration and psychological change in the digital sense. ‘Humans are sensory beings, with visual stimuli affecting cognitive digestion, memory and understanding in a more impactful way compared to textual stimuli. I combine both towards a creative outcome that helps facilitate these processes in an even more fascinating manner. My intention is to cultivate my skills, and gear towards creating a better reality within the socio-technological spheres, using this art form to bridge the gap between the user and the creator,’ says Kopiso, who will be exhibiting their work at the 2022 showcase.
From 3 to 7 October 2022, 15 finalists will head into the last leg, which is an intensive week of training, talks and performances – all culminating in the gala evening on 8 October where the winner of the undergraduate scholarship will be announced.
The NSP is a partnership between ACT and the Nedbank Arts Affinity, with sponsorships from Sun International and Business and Arts South Africa, where the winner will receive a fully paid undergraduate scholarship to the value of R350 000 to study at an arts institution of their choice in South Africa.
Support the development of the arts at no cost to you
You can support the development of South African arts by banking with Nedbank. Open a savings or investment account and link it to the Arts Affinity to make a positive impact on the future careers of talented young artists, at no cost to you. You can also donate your Greenbacks to the Arts and Culture Trust via the Nedbank Money app. Visit any Nedbank branch, call the Nedbank Contact Centre on 0860 555 111 or go to www.nedbankarts.co.za for more information.
