Visual | Performing Arts Bursaries South Africa 2025 – 2026
The ARTS career field is one in which your success is strongly determined by your passion and drive. The salary ranges in this job sector are very vast – with the right skills, ambition and opportunities, you could go from being a “starving artist” to a world-famous artist. If you love what you do (most people in the arts sector do), then success is sure to follow.
Whether you dream of pursuing a career in visual arts (painting, drawing, photography, film making, video making, design, sculpture, ceramics and crafts) or performing arts (dance, drama and singing), passion is ultimately the key to your success.
In order to qualify for a bursary within the ARTS sector, you will generally have to submit or perform a piece of your “artwork”, 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.
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 tertiary funding, these bursary opportunities could be very helpful. If the stage is your office, then these are the bursary listings for you.
DANCE BURSARIES FOR 2025 – 2026
There are many career paths within the Dance industry, whether you choose to become a professional backup dancer, dance teacher or choreographer, the possibilities are endless.
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DRAMA | THEATRE BURSARIES FOR 2025 – 2026
Those who have obtained a drama or theatre qualification usually go on to acting in on-stage theatre shows, in television series, in blockbuster movies or even teaching drama.
- KZN Provincial Government Bursaries
- National Arts Council Bursaries
- Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Bursary
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FASHION | TEXTILE BURSARIES FOR 2025 – 2026
If you’ve always had a flair for fashion or would like to gain the skills required to create fashion masterpieces, a career in the fashion or textile industry may be your perfect fit.
- Cape Wools SA Bursary Fund
- Gert-Johan Coetzee Bursary
- The Foschini Group Bursary
- Truworths Bursary
- W|RSETA Bursary
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FILM | MOTION PICTURE BURSARIES FOR 2025 – 2026
If you prefer a spot behind the camera instead of in front of the camera, maybe you should consider a career within the film or motion picture industry.
Motion picture producers may start their career as a screenwriter, actor or business manager before expanding their skills to film production.
- AFDA Postgraduate Honours Development Bursary
- KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission Bursary
- Mpumalanga Provincial Government Bursary
- NFVF Bursary
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FINE ART | VISUAL ART BURSARIES FOR 2025 – 2026
The fine arts field include architecture, painting, sculpture, printmaking, poetry, music, photography, conceptual art, video editing | production, film and design.
The visual arts field include drawing, design, crafts, painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, photography, video production and literature.
- KZN Provincial Government Bursaries
- National Arts Council Bursaries
- Wakkerstroom Music Festival Bursary Competition
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JEWELLERY DESIGN BURSARIES FOR 2025 – 2026
Jewellery design is the art of designing and creating jewellery pieces. Before an item is created, the jewellery designer produces a design concept, followed by technical drawings. Jewellery designers are trained in the functional and architectural knowledge of the materials, wearability, composition, fabrication methods and current trends.
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PERFORMING ART BURSARIES FOR 2025 – 2026
The performing arts field includes art practices whereby artists use their voices and bodies, usually in relation to other objects, to project an artistic expression.
Sectors within the performing arts field include drama, dance, theatre and music (singing and composition).
- Access Trust Bursary
- KZN Provincial Government Bursaries
- Wakkerstroom Music Festival Bursary Competition
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MUSIC BURSARIES FOR 2025 – 2026
Some of the most popular careers within the music sector include performing and music writing, DJ, record producer and music teacher.
- KZN Provincial Government Bursaries
- National Arts Council Bursaries
- Revolution Media Academy Bursary
- SAMRO Bursary
- SASMT Bursaries
- Wakkerstroom Music Festival Bursary Competition