Deadline Date: January 30, 2026
The National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) officially has announced the opening of Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) grant funding applications to the Cultural and Creative Industries/Arts, Culture and Heritage Fraternity.
The focus areas, objectives, of this opportunity include positioning the arts as a valuable contributor to economic growth and job creation, stimulating economic development, promoting sustainability, raising the profile of South Africa as a destination for cultural consumers and increasing tourism volume and spend, building the professional capacity of the sector, improving the production and dissemination of local content, Stimulate Demand, Audience Development and Consumption, Building Heritage Resources, Information Gathering, Human Capital Development, and Developing cultural entrepreneurs. The Mzansi Golden Economy strategy is designed to enhance job creation, productivity, and global competitiveness within the arts, culture, and heritage sector by improving investment in key areas of the creative economy. The programme seeks to reposition the arts as a central driver of economic growth while supporting sustainable development and professionalisation across the sector.
Under the Cultural and Creative Industries Projects (CCIPs) workstream, the programme supports national large and medium-scale cultural and creative projects that create job opportunities for practitioners, creatives, and artists while contributing to local economic development. CCIPs aim to drive employment through work, job, and gig opportunities, promote social inclusion and cultural diversity, and upscale existing projects to enhance the quality and diversity of cultural offerings. Supported disciplines include performance and celebration, visual arts and crafts, books and press, design and creative services, and audio-visual and interactive media.
The Touring Ventures workstream focuses on supporting broader and cost-effective opportunities for South African cultural and creative outputs to be showcased internationally. This stream facilitates international touring of existing cultural products, productions, and exhibitions to explore new markets, create employment opportunities, and promote diverse South African cultural and creative products globally. Eligible disciplines mirror those under CCIPs, including performance, visual arts, books and press, design, and audio-visual and interactive media.
This call is open to tax-compliant South African citizen-owned and managed arts, culture, and heritage organisations and enterprises with independent legal status, registered as Non-Profit Organisations or Public Limited Companies. Only one application per organisation is permitted, and no beneficiary may receive two DSAC grants simultaneously in the same year. Preference may be given to projects that are co-financed, part-financed, or supported through partnerships, subject to proof of commitment.
For more information, visit Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
