When Communication Breaks Down, Redress Must Still Be Possible Today is the final day for appeals for the National Arts Council (NAC) Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme 6 (PESP 6) funding. Beyond the deadline itself, this moment invites a deeper reflection on why appeal mechanisms exist and why they must be exercised responsibly — by both applicants and institutions. At its core, an appeal is not an act of defiance. It is an act of engagement. In everyday life, misunderstandings often escalate when assumptions replace dialogue.  Messages are interpreted emotionally, intentions are questioned, and relationships fracture — not always because harm was intended, but because clarity was lost along the way.  Public funding processes are no different. Appeals Exist Because Human Error Exists The NAC’s mandate recognises a simple truth: public institutions are run by people, and people can make mistakes. Miscommunication, administrative oversight, incorrect assumptions, or inc...

The Most Confusing MGE Call Yet: Artists Apply in the Dark as the Clock Runs Out The current Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) funding call by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) closes today — and for many practitioners and organisations across South Africa, it may go down as the most confusing MGE call since the programme’s inception . What should have been a moment of clarity, support, and sector confidence has instead unfolded in silence. No Webinar, No Clarity, No Engagement Traditionally, DSAC has hosted information webinars to unpack funding criteria, clarify sector categories, and guide applicants through common pitfalls.  This year, no such engagement took place. As a result, organisations and artists have been left to interpret complex guidelines on their own — or rely on informal advice from officials whose guidance may not be binding during adjudication. In a sector already burdened by administrative barriers, this silence has consequences. Capacity Building:...

  THURSDAY EDITION |  FUNDING / OPPORTUNITIES / INDUSTRY NOTICES   WHAT PRACTITIONERS NEED TO KNOW, PREPARE, AND GET RIGHT January 2026 presents two critical funding opportunities for the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) in South Africa.  While both are state-funded and aim to strengthen the sector, they serve very different purposes, support different stages of organisational growth, and require different types of preparedness. These are: 1. Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Open Call – 2026/27 2. National Arts Council (NAC) Arts Organisation Support Funding (AOSF) – 2025–2028 Understanding the differences, similarities, and compliance expectations between these two opportunities is key to avoiding unnecessary disqualifications and missed opportunities.                             Image: DSAC Logo      (Source: DSAC) WHY THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE SIGNIFICANT 1. They Address ...

PAYMENTS & APPEAL PROCESSES By Thami aka Mbongo Manzana |  The Creative Passport The  National Arts Council (NAC)  has provided important updates regarding  PESP 6  for all artists and beneficiaries. Here’s what you need to know: 1. Appeal Processes The media statement detailing the  PESP 6 appeals process  was finalized on  24 December 2025  and is scheduled for publication in the  first week of January 2026 . Applicants will have  30 days from the date of publication  to lodge their appeals. 2. PESP 6 Payments Payments for  PESP 6  were successfully made on  24 December 2025  to beneficiaries who had submitted their required documents to the NAC. For those who  have not yet received payments , you are advised to  WhatsApp the NAC CEO with your project numbers  so that payments can be checked. If you do not have the NAC CEO’s contact number,  The Creative Passport can assist you . We...

                           Image: NAC Logo      (Source: NAC)  INVITING THE CREATIVE SECTOR INTO A NECESSARY CONVERSATION By Thami akaMbongo Manzana | The Creative Passport The Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP 6) was introduced as a critical intervention to support artists, practitioners, and cultural workers across South Africa. For many in the Cultural and Creative Industries, it represented not just temporary relief, but recognition of the sector’s economic and social contribution. However, months after implementation,  serious concerns remain unresolved , particularly around: Delayed or incomplete payments The appeal process Lack of clear, consistent communication from the National Arts Council (NAC) Most concerning for many practitioners is the  perceived silence  from the NAC regarding the  PESP 6 appeal process  — an issue that continues to affect liv...

                     Image: MGE Open Call poster       (Source: DSAC) DSAC open call of Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) grant funding applications to the cultural and creative industries/ arts, culture and heritage fraternity are open  By Thami akaMbongo Manzana |  The Creative Passport The National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) opens Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) grant funding applications to the Cultural and Creative Industries/ Arts, Culture and Heritage Fraternity. 🗓️30 January 2026 at 17h00.  Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Launched with a mandate to increase economic growth and to create jobs in the country, the Mzansi Golden Economy strategy considers the arts, culture, and heritage sector as the “new gold”, which has the potential to reposition the sector as the key market player in the country’s economic development. With improved investment in key creative economy areas, the department b...

                           (Source: NAC) 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐂 𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 (𝐀𝐎𝐒𝐅) 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍! By Thami akaMbongo Manzana |  The Creative Passport The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) invites registered arts organisations and companies to apply for the three-year Arts Organisation Support Funding (AOSF). Eligible organisations 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁, 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰, 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗲, 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 are encouraged to apply. 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: http://www.nac.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AOSF-Funding-Guidelines-for-2025-2028.pdf 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑: 𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝟎𝟏𝟎 𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟔. 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏 𝐍𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑:...