TWO MAJOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES OPEN IN JANUARY 2026
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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.
WHY THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE SIGNIFICANT
1. They Address Different Gaps in the Sector
MGE focuses on projects, productions, touring, and economic activity
AOSF focuses on organisational sustainability, governance, and long-term growth
Together, they respond to the long-standing call for:
- Job creation
- Market access
- Organisational stability
- Transformation and inclusion
2. They Signal Government Commitment to the CCI
Despite ongoing debates around funding models, these calls demonstrate that:
- The arts remain part of national economic planning
- Multi-year and project-based funding are both recognised as necessary
Image: MGE Logo
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY 1: MZANSI GOLDEN ECONOMY (MGE) OPEN CALL 2026/27
What Is MGE?
The Mzansi Golden Economy is a competitive project-based funding programme administered by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC). It supports implementation-ready projects that can demonstrate economic impact, job creation, and audience development .
What Does MGE Fund?
MGE supports:
- Cultural and Creative Industries Projects (CCIPs)
- Touring Ventures (national and international)
Supported disciplines include:
- Theatre, dance, music, spoken word
- Visual arts and crafts
- Books and press
- Design and creative services
- Audio-visual and interactive media (excluding film production)
Grant Size
CCIPs: up to R2 million
Touring Ventures: up to R1 million
Who Should Apply?
Companies (Pty Ltd)
NGOs, NPOs, NPCs, Trusts (Please note: NPO certificate required even if you are an NPC)
Tax-compliant, South African-owned entities
Applicants with clear implementation plans between May 2026 and February 2027
Key Reality Check
MGE does NOT fund:
- Operational costs
- Infrastructure
- Retrospective projects
This is a project execution grant, not an organisational survival fund.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY 2: NAC ARTS ORGANISATION SUPPORT FUNDING (AOSF) 2025–2028
What Is AOSF?
The AOSF is a three-year organisational support grant administered by the National Arts Council. It is designed to strengthen arts organisations, not just individual projects .
What Does AOSF Support?
- Core artistic programmes
- Partial operational and administrative costs
- Capacity building
- Governance and sustainability
- Long-term employment creation
Grant Size (Per Year)
- Foundation Phase (1–5 years): up to R500,000
- Intermediate Phase (5+ years): up to R750,000
- Established Phase (10+ years): up to R1 million
Who Should Apply?
- Formally registered arts organisations
- Organisations with track records
- Organisations with governance structures
- Organisations capable of three-year planning
Key Advantage
Unlike MGE, AOSF allows administrative and running costs, as long as they do not exceed 15% of the total budget .
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MGE AND AOSF
Both funding opportunities:
- Are competitive (no automatic entitlement)
- Require full compliance documentation
Prioritise:
- Job creation
- Youth, women, and people with disabilities
- Social cohesion
- Accountability and reporting
- Penalise incomplete or inaccurate applications
WHAT YOU NEED TO PREPARE (BEFORE YOU APPLY)
For Both Funds
- Certified IDs
- Valid bank confirmation
- Organisational registration documents
- Portfolio of previous work
- Clear, realistic budgets
- Governance clarity
- Conflict of interest declarations
For MGE Specifically
- Implementation-ready project plan
- Job creation numbers
- Marketing and audience strategy
- Proof of co-financing (where applicable)
For AOSF Specifically
- Three-year business plan
- Financial statements (1–3 years depending on category)
- Organisational profile and governance structure
- Reference letters
- Sustainability plan beyond grant funding
Image: DSAC MGE Call Advert
HOW TO AVOID FAILING COMPLIANCE STAGES
Many applications fail before adjudication. To avoid this:
- Do not rush submission
- Double-check document names and formats
- Ensure budgets align with activities
- Avoid generic copy-and-paste narratives
- Declare all previous funding honestly
- Match your application to the correct fund
Applying for the wrong fund is one of the most common mistakes.
FINAL WORD
These two funding opportunities are not competitors — they are complementary tools in building a stronger Cultural and Creative Industries ecosystem.
MGE is about doing the work
AOSF is about sustaining the institution that does the work
The organisations and practitioners who succeed will be those who:
- Understand the intention of each fund
- Prepare early
- Treat compliance as seriously as creativity
January 2026 is not just another funding window — it is a strategic moment for the sector to apply smarter, stronger, and more aligned than ever before.
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𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 NAC 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞:
𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑: 𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝟎𝟏𝟎 𝟖𝟖𝟖𝟔. 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐒𝐀𝐏𝐏 𝐍𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑: 𝟎𝟔𝟎 𝟕𝟗𝟏 𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓. 𝐖𝐄𝐁𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐄: 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐧𝐚𝐜.𝐨𝐫𝐠.𝐳𝐚.
MGE FUNDING GUIDELINES
The Department is inviting interested Arts, Culture and Heritage organisations (NPOs and Pty Ltd) to visit www.eservices.gov.za to make their applications from Friday, 05 December 2025 at 12h00 until 30 January 2026 at 17h00. Please note that DSAC will not accept hand-delivered or emailed applications.
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