The announcement follows an open call by ACT in January which invited young people who want to study towards a performing, visual or digital arts degree in 2024 to apply for the programme.

ACT NSP is an annual partnership between ACT, the Nedbank Arts Affinity, Sun International and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), offering matriculants, school-leavers and budding arts practitioners the opportunity to win a fully paid undergraduate scholarship worth R350 000 (about $18 000) to study at a South African arts institution of their choice.

The 15 finalists were selected after three months of intense online training and mentorship and will now compete in the final event. These significant events celebrate and support the talent of both young visual and performing artists from across South Africa.

The final week of ACT NSP began on 2 October and includes various exciting activities for the finalists, including masterclasses with industry experts and site visits to esteemed arts institutions in Johannesburg. It was a lead-up to the second week visual arts exhibition at the MTN Innovation Centre in Johannesburg, which opened on 5 October. Finally, ACT NSP will conclude with a glitzy gala night featuring a performance showcase by the finalists on 7 October at the Joburg Theatre, where the two winners of a visual arts and performing arts scholarship will be announced.

“The ACT NSP is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of South Africa’s young, vibrant and artistic talents, whose ambition it is to follow a career in the arts and culture sector,” ACT CEO Jessica Denyschen said. “With the scholarship finals week we aim to provide a platform for emerging artists to showcase their craft, connect with industry leaders, and gain exposure that can launch their careers. We are incredibly excited to witness this year’s emerging talents from diverse backgrounds showcasing their work, and we encourage the public to join us on this incredible journey as ticket details will be announced soon.”

This year’s iteration of the programme saw 68 participants being shortlisted to participate nationally. The programme started on 10 June with bi-weekly online professional training and mentorship taking place over three months until mid-August 2023. Performing artists (singers, dancers, and actors) as well as digital or visual artists were rated by their mentors every month, and those who performed the best over the three-month period have now qualified for one of 15 finalist spots.

The names of the qualifying finalists in each of the arts disciplines are as follows:

Performing arts finalists

• Asiphumeze Stuurman (Western Cape)
• Bonoko Khoda (Gauteng)
• Lindiwe Ngwenya (Gauteng)
• Mthobisi Khanyile (Gauteng)
• Naledi Lebelo (Free State)
• Nicole Retief (Western Cape)
• Nonjabulo Khubeka (Gauteng)
• Nsizwazakithi Mvubelo (Gauteng)
• Thato Segodi (Gauteng)
• Tintswalo Mahlakolisane (Gauteng)

 Visual/digital arts finalists

• Azanda Nyangintsimbi (Gauteng)
• Lauren Wood (KwaZulu-Natal)
• Rethabile Weevirs (North West)
• Siphesihle Hlatshwayo (Gauteng)
• Thabang Makgakwe (Limpopo)