The Presidency has made a special employment stimulus programme available to the sector to disburse via the National Arts Council and the National Film and Video Foundation. The Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) is geared towards employment creation and retention initiatives for artists, creatives, heritage sector workers and cultural workers. This includes (but is not limited to) support to innovation in digitisation efforts for content creation and the dissemination and development of e-commerce systems.
The NAC encourages the sector to respond with agility to new ways of developing, promoting, selling and creating art, culture and heritage programmes projects and products. This includes reimagining audience interaction with the arts, culture and heritage, the creation of new paradigms for viewing and understanding the place of the arts, culture and heritage during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme is a three-month injection and projects have to conclude by 31 March 2021.
How is the NAC disbursing the PESP?
The NAC is disbursing funding through two streams. The first stream focusses on JOB RETENTION via a wage subsidy and is for organisations, institutions, SMME’s and individuals in the arts, culture and heritage sector. The second stream focusses on PROJECTS that can create income opportunities and is for organisations, institutions, SMME’s and individuals in the arts, culture and heritage sector.
STREAM 1: JOB RETENTION WAGE SUBSIDY
Many institutions and organisations in the sector are facing the
prospect of job cuts as a result of loss of revenue. Organisations,
institutions, SMMES and individuals/sole traders find themselves in a
positions where they are struggling to retain their staff compliment. In
this call the sector will apply for a wage subsidy to retain employees
that they already have on their payroll or on contract.
The average wage subsidy has been calculated at R16 600 over three
months concluding 31 March 2021 (January, February and March 2021).
What compliance documents do you need to submit with your application?
- Examples of individual or organisation’s previous works in the form of photographs, brochures, videos or other published/printed materials
- Valid tax clearance certificate
- Certified copy of ID of main applicant (not older than 3 months)
- Copy of company registration (NOT FOR INDIVIDUAL APPLICANTS)
- Payslips, PAYE or other proof of payment to employees or contractors such as bank statements or contracts
- Proof of bank account on bank letterhead
Closing date of Stream 1: 20 November 2020
Announcements of STREAM 1 outcomes: From 1 December 2020
Download NAC OEP PESP CALL FOR APPLICATIONS (PDF)
Download NAC Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme Application Guidelines (PDF)