Theatre is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage.
Performing arts focus on dance, acting, singing, or playing an instrument. Theatre and Performing Arts encompass various specialties, also including music performance, graphic design, and fine arts.
Colleges and universities offer Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in many areas of Theatre and Performing Arts.
Where To Study Theatre and Performing Arts in South Africa
Here are a few tertiary institutions where you can pursue Theatre and Performing Arts in South Africa:
- University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
- University of Pretoria (UP)
- University of Johannesburg (UJ)
- Durban University of Technology (DUT)
- University of Cape Town (UCT)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
- Stellenbosch University
- University of the Western Cape (UWC)
How To Qualify for a Bursary in the Arts Sector?
While creativity cannot be taught, your skills and talents can be fine-tuned with the help of a tertiary qualification. If you are in need of financial aid, bursary opportunities could be very helpful.
In order to qualify for a bursary within the Arts sector, you will generally have to submit or perform a piece of your “art work”, depending on whether you are in the visual or performing arts sector. You will also be required to have a certain level of academic results.
Bursaries for Theatre and Performing Arts
The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC)
The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) was established by Parliament in 1997. The NAC is inviting students to apply for their International Bursary programme.
The International Bursary will be awarded for Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies towards an Arts qualification (including dance, craft, multidiscipline, literature, theatre, music, and visual arts), at any international tertiary institution outside of South Africa.
Eligibility requirements include:
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must be registered for full-time undergraduate or postgraduate studies, within one of the Arts fields listed above
- You must be registered or accepted to study at an international institution
- You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 65% (students with an overall average of 63% may be considered in special cases)
- Recognition of prior learning qualification may also be considered if the student is accepted by a sufficient and specific institution
- You must maintain satisfactory progress
- You must demonstrate artistic merit
- You must be in financial need
- Preference will be given to students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds
Arts & Culture Trust (ACT)
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP) was formed as a partnership between ACT and Nedbank Arts Affinity, with the goal of funding higher education for young South African performers and visual artists.
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is inviting students to apply for the Nyoloha Scholarship programme (NSP).
Scholarships will be awarded for undergraduate studies within the following fields:
- Performing Arts (singing, dance, theatre/acting)
- Visual Arts (paintings, drawings – photography is NOT included)
- Digital Arts (digital installations, 2D/3D computer graphics, digital paintings)
To qualify for this scholarship, you must intend on studying, but not currently registered, at a tertiary institution in South Africa (which may include, but is not limited to) the following institutions:
- AFDA (Johannesburg or Cape Town), the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance
- Campus of Performing Arts (COPA)
- City Varsity, School of Media and Creative Arts
- Durban University of Technology
- Ehlanzeni Arts Academy from Mbombela, Mpumalanga
- L&A Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA), Cape Town
- Market Theatre Laboratory
- Moving into Dance Mophatong
- North-West University
- Oakfields College
- Open Window, Gauteng
- Rhodes University
- Sibikwa Arts Centre
- The Rainbow Academy
- Tshwane University of Technology
- University of Cape Town
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus
- University of Pretoria
- University of Stellenbosch
- University of the Free State
- University of the Witwatersrand
- Waterfront Theatre School
Eligibility requirements include:
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must be between the ages of 17 and 25 years old
- You must be currently in Matric OR must have university exemption
- You must intend on pursuing an undergraduate qualification within the performing or visual arts field
- You must be starting your 1st year of study
- You must be in need of financial assistance to pursue your studies
- You must be accepted to study at the above-mentioned tertiary institutions
- You must NOT be considered a professional artist (you must NOT have specialized training/ and or be employed full time in your artistic discipline)
FAME Academy SA Bursary
The FAME Academy SA, established in 2017, is the first School of Creative Arts in Limpopo province, as well as a first-of-its-kind in South Africa.
FAME Academy SA will be awarding bursaries for the following qualifications:
- Performing Arts bursaries for children between 4 and 16 years old (including Acting, Drama, Dance, Singing, Theatre, Choreography, Instrument Specialist, Modelling, Deejaying)
- Performing Arts bursaries for adults between 18 and 35 years old (including Acting, Drama, Dance, Singing, Theatre, Choreography, Instrument Specialist, Modelling, Deejaying)
- Fashion Design bursaries
- Production and Presenting bursaries
- Radio Production and Presenting bursaries
Eligibility requirements include:
- Must speak any of the 11 official South African languages
- Must be in possession of a Matric certificate
- For the Performing Arts children bursary, applicants must be aged between 4 and 16 years old
- For the Performing Arts adults bursary, Fashion Design bursary, TV Production bursary and Radio Production bursary, applicants must be aged between 18 and 35 years old
- Must be planning on starting their studies at FAME Academy SA
Absa Fellowship Programme
Absa Group Limited is a financial services group located in South Africa, and is inviting students to apply for their Fellowship Programme.
The programme is open to learners from selected African countries (South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Mauritius, Seychelles), for undergraduate degree studies in various fields, including Arts:
- Theatre and Performance
- Drama and Performance
- Drama
- Drama and Theatre Studies
- Drama and Film Studies
- Media Studies
- Visual Arts
- Visual Studies
- Creative Arts
- Digital Arts
- Fine Arts
- Film and Media Production
- Film and Television
Eligibility requirements include:
- You must be a citizen of one of these African countries: South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Mauritius, Seychelles
- You must be aged between 18 and 25 years old
- You must have completed Matric (or equivalent) with a minimum overall average of 65%
- You must be entering your 1st year of study
- You must intend on studying towards an undergraduate degree qualification, within one of the fields of study listed above
- You must have been provisionally accepted or accepted to study at one of the 26 public universities in South Africa
- You must be a leader
- You must be a catalyst for change
- You must be a humble and passionate
- You must be a brave and ready to embrace possibility
- You must be a ethical and socially conscious individual
Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation Bursary
The Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sport Foundation is a Public Entity of the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation in the North West Province.
The Mmabana Arts, Culture, and Sports Foundation is inviting students from the North West Province, to apply for bursary funding, awarded for Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies within Performing and Visual Arts fields of study.
Eligibility requirements include:
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must reside within the North West Province
- You must be studying or intend on studying towards an Undergraduate or Postgraduate qualification, within Performing Arts or Visual Arts fields of study
- You must be studying or accepted to study at an accredited institution of learning in South Africa
- You must NOT be currently receiving NSFAS funding
- You must NOT be an employee of Mmabana Arts Culture and Sport Foundation or a Government employee
