Deadline: Ongoing
The Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) is seeking applications for Artist Relief Grants to support South African creatives infected or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
BASA will consider applications from individual artists for once-off, short-term financial aid for COVID-19-related medical care and/or prescription medicines. The aid can also be used to offset the loss of income due to the cancellation of confirmed engagements, as a result of the nationwide lockdown or other emergency measures.
The BASA Artist Relief Grants support artists in South Africa who have been infected or affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically:
- Artists who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and/or are being treated for COVID-19 symptoms OR
- Artists who are experiencing a loss of income due to cancellations or postponements of confirmed engagements in South Africa, as a result of being infected with COVID-19 or due to the National State of Disaster and subsequent lockdown
What will be funded?
- Proven medical expenses to a maximum value of R10 000 (copies of medical certificates, prescriptions, and receipts for the purchase of medication specific to the treatment of the COVID-19 infection will be required).
- Up to 50% of proven loss of income due to a cancelled contract, to a maximum value of R10 000 (a one-page letter from the applicant’s client/employer detailing a high-level overview of the project, copies of contracts, official letters, communication, and any other relevant supporting documentation will be required).
- A percentage, as decided by BASA, of proven loss of income due to the postponement of a contract (a one-page letter from the applicant’s client/employer detailing a high-level overview of the project, copies of contracts, official letters, communication, and any other relevant supporting documentation will be required).
Criteria
- The BASA Artist Relief Grants will assist the individual artist, freelance creative or independent contractor.
- Applicants must be:
- Practicing artists, whether emerging or established, at least 18 years of age, with proven work experience of at least 12 months in any arts/culture/creative genre, and who are South African citizens with valid ID documents, or
- Practicing artists, whether emerging or established, at least 21 years of age with proven work experience in any arts/culture/creative genre for at least 3 years, and who have had permanent residence in South Africa for at least 12 months with a valid passport and the applicable visa.
- Preference will be given to applicants who have been hospitalised with COVID-19.
- Exclusions:
- Organisations, collectives or any other group of artists are not eligible for these grants. Members of such groups who have been affected may only apply for an Artist Relief Grant in their personal capacity (as per guidelines and required criteria). However, organisations and their business sponsors are still invited to apply for Supporting Grants through the regular channels.
- Artists with permanent employment of any kind are not eligible for these grants. The Artist Relief Grant is specifically aimed at freelancers or independent contractors whose sole income source is their creative work, and who do not have a regular salary source or institutional support.
- Similar to Supporting Grant eligibility, projects or events outside of South Africa are not eligible for this these grants. The Artist Relief Grant will only consider applications for loss of income within South Africa.
- Similar to Supporting Grant eligibility, film and television projects are not eligible for these grants. The Artist Relief Grant will only consider applications for film festivals, not production or other film and television project costs, as these are the mandate of the National Film and Video Foundation which also receives funding from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
For more information, visit https://www.basa.co.za/home-page/growth/supporting-grants-2/artist-relief-grant/