Applications open for Concerts SA’s fifth Digital Mobility Fund

Press release
For immediate release 14 September 2022

Applications open for Concerts SA’s fifth Digital Mobility Fund
Deadline 26 September 2022

Concerts SA is proud to launch its fifth Digital Mobility Fund (DMF) for musicians in South Africa. The Concerts SA Mobility Fund started in 2014 and the Digital Mobility Fund was initiated in 2020 as an active response to the challenges facing the live music scene due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Concerts SA has continuously contributed to making sure that there are platforms for musicians where they can share their craft. Imagine if we didn’t have such a programme, our country (and the SADC region) wouldn’t have the vibrancy it has. Musicians are the news of the modern times, if they are not inspired or supported, there is no music, no hope. Not forgetting the many music lovers, where would they get the accessibility to regular live-music events.”
Artist, promoter and venue owner Sibusile Xaba

Funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Norwegian Embassy, and SAMRO, Concerts SA is administered by IKS Cultural Consulting and supported by our digital partner, Music in Africa. Each DMF grant will provide up to R30 000 to be used for small scale live music events that will be streamed live, or recorded for delayed broadcast. All concerts will need to be recorded with a live audience.

“Because of the traction The Scullery Quintet could create with the support funding we received from Concerts SA, we have really been busy creating opportunities to perform as a group. Since our online concert we got booked to play at the Wakkerstroom Music Festival, the Atterbury Klassieke Muziek, we are to release an album later this year (thanks to the SAMPRA development fund), corporate gig for Rand Merchant Bank and the Toyota US Woordfees coming up in October. Thank you for your continued effort to support our industry. If not for that initial boost from Concerts SA, it would’ve died in a rehearsal room.”
Peter Auret, 2022 SAMA winner for “The Best Engineered Album of the Year”.

The final deadline for applications is 26 September 2022. Concerts need to take place between 15 November and 16 December 2022 or 18 January – 15 February 2023. Streams of these concerts need to take place between 15 November 2022 and 15 February 2023. Applications from artists for their own projects are preferred. Please note that recipients of the March 2022 Digital Mobility Fund will be excluded from this round of funding.

Thank you for the mobility fund. I would not have been able to do the live launch which formed a great release strategy and gave attention to the album.”
Khanyisile Mthethwa, 2022 SAMA winner in the “White Star Newcomer of the Year” and “Best Classical/Instrumental Album” categories.

How to apply:

Create an outline for your streamed live music event with times, people and budget
Complete your artist or band profile on Music in Africa https://www.musicinafrica.net/user/register
Your concert must take place between 15 November and 16 December 2022 or 18 January – 15 February 2023, and needs to be streamed between 15 November 2022 and 15 February 2023.

Notes for Editors

ConcertsSA is a joint South African/Norwegian initiative administered by IKS Cultural Consulting www.iksafrica.com under the auspices of SAMRO www.samro.org.za; it receives financial, administrative and technical support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria, and SAMRO. The project aims to support live music in South Africa by finding and implementing catalytic methods to stimulate a vibrant and viable live music circuit in southern Africa. It also aims to develop an interest in and appreciation of live music by showcasing music performances. For more information please visit our website www.concertssa.co.za, follow @ConcertsSA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ConcertsSA or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ConcertsSA. #ConcertsSA #DMF2022

SAMRO, through its corporate social investment (CSI), is committed to improved business professionalism, innovation and thought leadership in the southern African music industry. Concerts SA is one of the projects that SAMRO supports towards this mission. www.samro.org.za

IKS Cultural Consulting is a consulting and project management agency based on sound research and analysis. IKS provides strategic consulting, planning and project management services in arts and culture. Established in 2004, IKS took over the management of the Concerts SA programme on 1 April 2020. Visit: www.iksafrica.com, follow @IKSAfrica on Twitter or like IKS Africa on Facebook.

Media Contacts : Sophia Welz admin@iksafrica.com +27 83 272 2117