Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is inviting proposals from dynamic individuals to join the upcoming ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP) in the roles of Artistic Director and Stage Manager.  The ACT seeks these programme personnel to support the NSP. Only South African citizens who are available from August – October 2025 are eligible to make application.

The Production Artistic Director (musical theatre experience will be highly considered) will be responsible for and facilitating the Performing Arts segment of the programme through the curation of rehearsals from 6 October – 10 October 2025. The selected candidate will work with an assistant choreographer and assistant vocal coach. Overall, the Artistic Director will be responsible for conceiving, developing, and implementing an artistic vision and focus, according to this year’s theme, for the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme Gala Event on 11 October 2025.

The Stage Manager will be responsible for coordinating the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme production from rehearsals to performances, working alongside the Artistic Director to ensure that the production is successful.  The Stage Manager will be working with the Artistic Director during finals week from 5 October -12 October 2025 and execute the technical support for the artistic vision and focus for the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme Gala Event in October.

In partnership with Nedbank, Sun International, the MTN Foundation SA, and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) the ACT NSP is an undergraduate scholarship initiative designed to empower qualifying youth with opportunities to pursue tertiary education in visual and performing arts. Simultaneously, the programme aims to equip practicing artists with career-accelerating skills, ensuring sustainable careers in the contemporary job market of the cultural and creative industries.

“We’re committed to nurturing the next generation of creative talent,” says Jessica Denyschen, CEO of ACT. “We’re on the lookout for dynamic professionals who not only have a passion for the arts, but who also bring a strong commitment to mentorship, innovation, and excellence in their fields. Ideal candidates will have experience integrating emerging technologies into visual and performing arts, and a desire to help young artists unlock real-world opportunities. Through the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme, we aim to create meaningful pathways to employment for aspiring creatives—and we invite visionary artists to help us shape a more vibrant and inclusive creative future.”

The selected candidates will engage in a three-month bi-weekly mentorship and training programme, conducted online on Saturdays. The programme includes online training, mentorship with industry experts with a focus on discipline specific knowledge and information. The 2025 iteration of the programme encompasses a strong focus on the inclusion of immersive technologies in the visual and performing arts.

The culmination of the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme will see a selection of 15 finalists that will move ahead post-training phase to participate in an intensive week of master classes, and rehearsals, resulting in a final performing arts showcase and exhibition to win one of two scholarships to the value of three hundred thousand rand each. Participants collaborate with industry professionals, gaining valuable experience and the opportunity to connect with emerging artists from diverse backgrounds.

The deadline for applications is Friday, 13 June 2025 at at 4:30 pm. Further details regarding the job specifications of each position and the application process are available in the ACT Nyoloha RFP document which can be found when applying at www.act.org.za/nyoloharfp.

Enquiries or questions must be e-mailed to ACT Programme Coordinator Angelinah Kemane at angelinah@act.org.za. To keep in touch with the ACT, visit their website, follow them on X or like their Facebook page.