FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO APPLY FOR THE CHINA TRIP!
The National Arts Council has built a reputation for strict compliance. Now it's time for artists to hold the institution to the same standard of transparency.
By Thami akaMbongo Manzana
For years, artists have become accustomed to hearing the National Arts Council's favourite phrases.
"Application not compliant."
"Reference letter not signed."
"Certified ID older than three months."
"Document not dated."
"Budget inconsistent."
"Limited resources."
South African artists know these words all too well.
Many promising projects have fallen at the first hurdle because of what the National Arts Council considered compliance failures. Others have been told there simply were "limited resources," despite meeting every requirement.
Now comes an opportunity that has captured the attention of the sector, a fully funded trip to China.
Suddenly, there are resources.
Suddenly, there is an opportunity to travel internationally.
And suddenly, artists are asking questions.
If You Believe You Qualify, Apply
The invitation refers to "former National Arts Council beneficiaries."
Those three words have sparked an important national conversation.
Who exactly is a former beneficiary?
Does it include anyone who has ever received National Arts Council support?
Or does it only refer to a select group?
The invitation does not clearly say.
So, if you genuinely believe you qualify, apply.
Make your case.
Tell your story.
Submit your motivation.
Let the National Arts Council tell you whether you qualify.
Do not disqualify yourself before they do.
You Have Nothing to Lose
For years, thousands of artists have submitted applications to the National Arts Council.
Many received decline letters.
Not because their ideas lacked merit.
Not because their communities did not deserve investment.
But because there were supposedly "limited resources."
If you are one of those practitioners, perhaps this is the moment to remind the National Arts Council of your journey.
Write a compelling motivation.
Explain your work.
Explain your impact.
Explain why this opportunity could change your practice.
If you have previously been declined despite years of commitment to the arts, your experience is part of your story.
Tell it.
Ask Questions. Lots of Questions.
Applications should not be the only emails the National Arts Council receives.
Enquiries matter too.
Seek clarity.
Ask whether you qualify.
Request confirmation if you are uncertain.
Public institutions should welcome questions from the very communities they exist to serve.
Transparency begins with communication.
The Outcomes Will Be Closely Watched
The Creative Passport will closely monitor this process.
The sector deserves confidence that the process is fair, transparent and accountable.
We will be interested in understanding:
How many applications were received?
How many were compliant?
How many applicants were shortlisted?
What criteria ultimately determined selection?
Who adjudicated the applications?
How were conflicts of interest managed?
Public confidence depends on public accountability.
Tell the Sector What Last Year's Programme Achieved
Before announcing this year's successful applicants, the National Arts Council should also reflect on the previous programme.
The creative sector deserves to know:
How many South Africans participated?
Which disciplines benefited?
Which provinces were represented?
What skills were brought back to South Africa?
What measurable impact has the programme had?
Were participants required to share their learning with the broader sector?
Capacity-building should leave a visible legacy.
The sector deserves to see it.
Who Is Travelling?
Another important question concerns the official delegation.
The National Arts Council should publicly disclose:
How many participants will attend?
How many National Arts Council officials will accompany the delegation, if any?
What roles will those officials perform?
Who will fund their participation?
International partnerships should always place practitioners at the centre.
Questions the National Arts Council Still Needs to Answer
This opportunity has also opened a broader governance discussion.
The National Arts Council should explain:
Why are some opportunities issued as closed invitations rather than open public calls?
How many closed calls does the National Arts Council administer each year?
What framework governs these invitations?
What does the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Arts Council and the People's Republic of China provide for?
How was this partnership established?
Who negotiated it?
How are beneficiaries selected under the agreement?
What safeguards exist to ensure fairness and equal access?
These are not unreasonable questions.
They are the questions that accompany good governance.
The National Arts Council Is Not "National Arts Compliance"
For years, artists have joked that the institution should be renamed "National Arts Compliance."
Perhaps this moment presents an opportunity for the National Arts Council to demonstrate that compliance is not only expected from applicants.
It should also apply to the institution itself.
Transparency.
Fairness.
Accountability.
Clear communication.
Those are forms of compliance too.
Find Creative Ways to Tell Your Story
The Creative Passport encourages every practitioner who genuinely believes they may be eligible to put forward the strongest application possible.
Write a motivation that reflects your journey.
Speak about your community.
Speak about your work.
Speak about your dreams.
Explain why you deserve an opportunity to represent South Africa.
If you are uncertain about your eligibility, ask.
If you believe you qualify, apply.
If you have questions, raise them.
This opportunity belongs in the public interest, and public institutions should have no difficulty explaining how public opportunities are allocated.
Good luck to every applicant.
And to the National Arts Council:
The sector is watching not because we oppose opportunity, but because we believe every deserving artist should have a fair opportunity to access it.
Transparency is not a threat.
It is the foundation of public trust.
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