Press Statement from The Artist’s Helpdesk: A Call for a More Accessible and Merit-Based Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Funding Process

11 February 2025

Press Statement from The Artist’s Helpdesk: A Call for a More Accessible and Merit-Based Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Funding Process

The Artist’s Helpdesk is dedicated to advocating for a creative economy that prioritises innovation, supports emerging talent, and drives meaningful cultural and economic growth in South Africa. While we recognise the admirable goals of the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) initiative, led by the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture (DSAC), we must express concern over the current application process, which appears to place undue emphasis on bureaucratic compliance in its early stages. This approach risks sidelining projects with transformative potential while rewarding applicants who are adept at navigating administrative hurdles rather than those who truly demonstrate sectoral impact.

Many applicants have encountered substantial barriers due to the extensive documentation required at the outset—such as certified copies of IDs, tax clearance certificates, and institutional confirmations. While accountability is important in funding distribution, the excessive focus on these compliance details, before evaluating the merit and potential of a project, places independent creatives and small collectives—who often lack institutional support—at a significant disadvantage. Many of these individuals and groups have the ideas and ambition to make a meaningful contribution to the sector but simply lack the resources to navigate the administrative demands of the application process.

This emphasis on procedural correctness over the actual artistic and economic value of proposals stands in stark contrast to the approach of many reputable international arts funding bodies. For example, the Prince Claus Fund and the Goethe-Institut are known for prioritising the artistic and cultural merit of proposals in their initial evaluations. These organisations assess applications based on their potential impact, innovation, and feasibility, requesting detailed compliance documents only for shortlisted candidates in the second round. This two-stage approach ensures that worthy, innovative projects are not overlooked due to bureaucratic barriers and provides applicants with the guidance and time necessary to meet compliance requirements.

In contrast, the current MGE process prioritises compliance from the outset, which, while well-intentioned, has created an environment where projects that could have a profound impact are excluded in favour of those simply capable of fulfilling administrative formalities. This is especially concerning for smaller organisations and independent creatives who may lack the infrastructure to meet these early-stage demands, even when their proposals have the potential to drive significant cultural change.

Clear communication is also a critical element in ensuring that applicants are not disadvantaged. For example, many applicants who participated in the DSAC’s webinars were later informed, after the fact, that only NPO registration certificates would be accepted—despite being told initially that NPCs, NPOs, and PTYs were all eligible entities. Such discrepancies in guidance only contribute to frustration and confusion among applicants, further deepening the barriers to access.

A shift towards a more inclusive, merit-based application process is essential for the MGE to fulfil its true potential. We advocate for a two-stage process: first, a focus on the artistic and economic value of proposals, with compliance documentation requested only for those applicants who are shortlisted. This would ensure that the funding is allocated based on the substance and potential impact of the projects, rather than the applicant’s ability to navigate bureaucratic procedures.

If the DSAC is genuinely committed to rebuilding and growing South Africa’s creative sector, it must rethink its funding process to remove unnecessary barriers and ensure that the projects with the most potential to benefit the arts, culture, and heritage sector are not excluded due to compliance hurdles. By taking inspiration from international best practices, the MGE can foster a funding environment that is inclusive, transparent, and truly focused on advancing artistic and economic transformation.

We urge the DSAC to consider this necessary reform, so that the MGE initiative can become a true catalyst for growth within South Africa’s creative sector—one that prioritises merit and impact over compliance.

For further information, please contact:

The Artist’s Helpdesk Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: The Artist's Helpdesk LinkedIn