What is Concerts SA?
Concerts SA is a decade long, multi-award winning (two BASA awards) project that aims to foster and empower vibrant live music circuits and grow dedicated audiences in South Africa and the southern African region. This innovative project started in 2013, supported by the Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria and the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), and is currently managed by IKS Cultural Consulting.
This supports qualifying venues and promoters through subsidies to host concerts in improved professional conditions, while ensuring fair compensation to musicians and technical personnel. It further aims to foster and empower vibrant live music circuits and grow dedicated audiences, while assisting artists by encouraging new music circuits for established and emerging artists.
This programme was initiated in 2013 to enable South African musicians to undertake live tours, building circuits nationally, and in other SADC countries.
The Fund started in November 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic as a pivot to digital. It focuses on subsidising artists to host concerts and engage with live performances on streaming platforms. This addressed innovation and new technologies and created a platform for artists to bolster their income and potentially reach a diversified global audience.
The programme encourages appreciation for live music, with concerts and workshop at primary and secondary schools. It allows learners to experience music instruments in a professional setting, and exposes children in under-privileged communities to traditional and indigenous music instruments, encouraging participative learning.
Research informs and underpins the implementation of the programme and contributes to the body of knowledge and raw data available on the South African music sector. This is supported by a collaborative collective of independent experts from the arts, culture and heritage sectors, and draws on a network of leading consultants in the creative industries to propose and implement successful strategies and programmes across the African continent.
Playing a pivotal role, this is embedded in our broader programme approach and continues to make an important contribution to the effectiveness of our programme. Engagement takes place with all key organisations and initiatives in South Africa, as well as broadening out to various countries in African continent and Europe.
Who Benefits?
The Concerts SA project (www.concertssa.co.za) supports platforms for South African musicians to showcase their talent, promote social cohesion, and celebrate our rich cultural diversity.
How To Apply
Concerts SA's vision is to establish sustainable music circuits in the southern African region.
The organization relies on funding from third-party donors to execute its programs.
Generous support has been received from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), and the National Arts Council.
Each call will have unique opportunities and requirements for eligibility.
It is recommended to regularly monitor Concerts SA's social media for updates on funding opportunities.
Our mission
To support individuals who seek an income in the music industry through technology, performance or coaching
- Built into the programmes were workshops and resources that encouraged best professional practice from all those who received support, by providing micro-grants
- Through this project, musicians, promoters, venues and institutions are being provided with the opportunity to establish a prosperous live music career
Andre Le Roux
James French
Nailla Dollie
Leigh Swartz
Mbali Ndhlovu
Our story & achievements
National Arts Council of South Africa partners with the Royal Norwegian Embassy & the Dept of Arts and Culture in the implementation of the Mmino Project. The project ran for 10 years.
Moshito and Mmino produce Mappint of the South African Live Music Circuit
Live music support concept discussed with the National Arts Council, Mmino, Rikskonsertene, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy
SAMRO initiates the SAMRO Foundation - an independent organisation with its own board to administer its Corporate Social Investment. Andre Le Roux is appointed Managing Director of the SAMRO Foundation.
SAMRO Foundation partnership with the British Council (R700 000 | R100 000 used for Great Escape, UK | The remainder was used for touring.)
Concerts SA project formally initiated through a 6 month pilot project in partnership with the Norwegian Rikskonsertene, supported by the Norwegian Embassy, to be administered by SAMRO through the SAMRO Foundation with Andre Le Roux as project manager. Nailla Dollie employed as the first Concerts SA staff member. She later appointed Hannelie Coetzee, followed by Violet Maila then Ignacio Priego. (Part time social media support from Kwelagobe Sekele and Tseliso Monaheng)
Phase 1 of Concerts SA commences
Concerts SA appoints Advisory Panel comprising Gloria Bosman; Neil Comfort; Steve Gordon; Roshnie Moonsammy; and Richard Nwamba
Concerts SA publishes Songlines - Report of the CSA 2013 live mapping project
The Concerts SA National Touring Programme launched with Herbie Tsoaeli which evolved to become the Concerts SA Mobility Fund.
Venue and Promoter support programme initiated
CSA publishes It Starts with A Heartbeat (based on the research by Beth O'Connor, under the supervision of Avril Joffe, and edited by Gwen Ansell)
Naila Dollie departs from CSA and Violet Maila (supported by Ignacio Priego & Zola Lumko) succeeds her as Project Manager.
Phase 2 of Concerts SA commences
Concerts SA model continues with Venue and Promoter Support, the Mobility Fund (which reached as far north as Tanzania), Schools Concerts, and Skills Development programmes
Royal Norwegian Embassy receives the BASA Increasing Access to the Arts award for Concerts SA
L to R: Minister Nathi Mthetwa, SAMRO Chairman Abe Sibiya, Anne Moburg (Rikskonzertene), Andre Le Roux, Nailla Dollie, Ambassador H.E. Trine Skymoen, and Kwanele Gumbi.
The Royal Norwegian Embassy/ Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador H.E. Astrid E Helle received the BASA Diplomacy in the Arts Special Award for supporting SA music since 1994 as well as some of their other efforts in Southern Africa.
Norwegian Embassy approves the 3rd Phase of Concerts SA.
Violet Mailla, Ignacio Priego and Zola Lumko depart from Concerts SA
THI Director, Ayhan Cetin, recieves the United Nations Pioneers in SDG’s Project Stakeholders award
Concerts SA supports A Concert for Refugees in partnership with the Turquoise Harmony Institute. The groundbreaking event is awarded the United Nations Pioneers in SDGs Project Stakeholders Award at UNGA Conference in New York.
André Le Roux leaves SAMRO. SAMRO agrees to let Le Roux' company, IKS, administer Concerts SA on their behalf. Kiran Isvarlal appointed to assist with finance and administration. This was followed by the appointments of temporary project staff Tseliso Monaheng, Monthati Masebe, and Kwelagobe Sekele
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and all live-music events being embargoed due to national lockdown in South Africa, Concerts SA publishes Digital Futures - Live Streaming in South Africa. With the support of the Norwegian Embassy the Mobility Fund is pivoted to the Digital Mobility Fund.
The first Digital Mobility Fund (DMF1) commences in November.
Digital Mobility Funds DMF2 and DMF3 successfully completed with the support of the Norwegians, National Arts Council and other international donors.
With the support of Concerts SA's data IKS presents the research report to the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO): Impact Analysis - Live Music and its Venues and the South African economy during COVID 19.
Workshops are held in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town
IKS Cultural Consulting publishes Concerts SA's Digital Futures Two: Taking Music online in South Africa.
DMF4 run alongside the Venues programme .
James French joins IKS to assist with Concerts SA's programmes
Concerts SA holds workshops in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg.
DMF5 and Venues Programme continue.
Concerts SA presents Digital Futures Two at workshops in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Phase 3 of Concerts SA completed, and in preparation for the departure of Norway's decade of support for the project, the Concerts SA team seeks support from local and international funders.
Help us build the African music sector
Concerts SA relies on the generous support of donors. In the past supporters have included the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), the National Arts Council, and a number of international donors.
Help us keep the live music sector alive by sending Concerts SA endorsements, thank you letters and by speaking to your municipal, provincial and national government of the good work of this project.