GrantRelief grant funding

Artist Relief Grants – Opportunities for South African Creatives Affected by COVID-19

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Artist Relief Grants from the Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) will be made available for South African creatives who have been affected by COVID-19., Post a Comment

Provider: Various
Host country: South Africa
Deadline: Varies by grant
Region: Africa

Official source Track this application

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Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Review the recorded eligibility, funding and deadline information below. Confirm the current award conditions on the provider's official source.

Who can apply: South African artists and creatives affected by COVID-19
Funding: Relief grant funding
Study level: Grant
Deadline: Varies by grant

Key eligibility criteria

South African artists and creatives affected by COVID-19

Recorded funding information

Relief grant funding

About the Artist Relief Grants – Opportunities for South African Creatives Affected by COVID-19 (2026)

Artist Relief Grants from the Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) will be made available for South African creatives who have been affected by COVID-19. The aid shall provide opportunities for South Africans to offset the loss of income and the consequent spike in expenses following the national lockdown and other emergency measures. ### **What is the BASA Artist Relief Grants?** BASA is a public benefit organization committed to promoting sustainability and relevance of the arts in society. In addition, it also offers innovative programs that provide and support knowledge transfer, skills development, and training in the cultural and creative sectors. As a joint initiative between the government and private sector, BASA is funded by an allocation from the Department of Arts and Culture. While BASA already has existing supporting grants, the Artist Relief Grants have only been established last year in response to the growing need for support of South Africans affected by COVID-19. This opportunity for South Africans is specifically aimed toward artists who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and/or are being treated for COVID-19 symptoms. Additionally, the relief grants also include artists who are experiencing a loss of income due to cancellations or postponements of confirmed engagements in South Africa as a result of being infected with COVID-19 or due to the National State of Disaster and subsequent lockdown. **\| CHECK OUT OTHER GRANTS:** [Rotary Foundation Global Grants and Scholarships for Africans in Development Studies](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/rotary-foundation-global-grants-and-scholarships-for-africans-in-development-studies/) ![](https://i0.wp.com/scholarshipsforafricans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/South-African-artists-affected-by-COVID-19.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)The BASA Artist Relief Grants shall provide opportunities for South Africans to offset the loss of income and the consequent spike in expenses following the national lockdown and other emergency measures.\| **Photo by [cottonbro](https://www.pexels.com/@cottonbro?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels) from [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/health-workers-wearing-face-mask-3957987/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels)** ### **What Opportunities Can Be Funded?** BASA will consider applications from individual South African artists for one-off, short-term financial aid for COVID-19-related medical care and/or prescription medicines. Furthermore, the organization will cover proven medical expenses to a maximum value of R10, 000. Copies of medical certificates, prescriptions, and receipts for the purchase of medication specific to the treatment of the COVID-19 infection will be required. On another note, the Artist Relief Grants support up to 50% of proven loss of income due to a canceled contract, to a maximum value of R10, 000. However, a one-page letter from the applicant’s client/employer detailing a high-level overview of the project, copies of contracts, official letters, communication, and any other relevant supporting documentation will be required. Lastly, BASA will decide a percentage of proven loss of income due to the postponement of a contract. For this, a one-page letter from the applicant’s client/employer detailing a high-level overview of the project, copies of contracts, official letters, communication, and any other relevant supporting documentation will be required. **\| CHECK OUT OTHER GRANTS:** [Sci-Tech Seed Grant for New African Principal Investors (SG-NAPI)](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/sci-tech-seed-grant-for-young-african-scientists/) ### **Eligibility of Africans Affected by COVID-19** Please note that the BASA Artist Relief Grants will assist individual artists, freelance creatives, or independent contractors from South Africa. In order to qualify for the said opportunities for South Africans, the applicants must be: · The BASA Artist Relief Grants will assist the individual artist, freelance creative, or independent contractor. **Applicants must be:** · Practicing artists, whether emerging or established, at least 18 years of age, with proven work experience of at least 12 months in any arts/culture/creative genre and who are · South African citizens with valid ID documents, or Practising artists, whether emerging or established, at least 21 years of age with proven work experience in any arts/culture/creative genre for at least three years and who have had permanent residence in South Africa for at least 12 months with a valid passport and the applicable visa. · Preference will be given to applicants who have been hospitalized with COVID-19. ![](https://i0.wp.com/scholarshipsforafricans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/COVID-19.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)The organization will cover proven medical expenses to a maximum value of R10, 000. **\| Photo by [August de Richelieu](https://www.pexels.com/@august-de-richelieu?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels) from [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/business-people-wearing-face-masks-and-talking-4427957/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels)** **Exclusions:** · Organizations, collectives, or any other group of artists are not eligible for these grants. Members of such groups who have been affected may only apply for an Artist Relief Grant in their personal capacity (as per guidelines and required criteria). However, organizations and their business sponsors are still invited to apply for Supporting Grants through regular channels. · Artists with permanent employment of any kind are not eligible for these grants. The Artist Relief Grant is specifically aimed at freelancers or independent contractors whose sole income source is their creative work and who do not have a regular salary source or institutional support. · Similar to Supporting Grant eligibility, projects or events outside of South Africa are not eligible for these grants. The Artist Relief Grant will only consider applications for loss of income within South Africa. · Similar to Supporting Grant eligibility, film and television projects are not eligible for these grants. The Artist Relief Grant will only consider applications for film festivals, not production or other film and television project costs, as these are the mandate of the National Film and Video Foundation, which also receives funding from the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture. _Grants will be awarded on a first-come basis to the first 67 eligible applicants and will close thereafter. For more details about the application process, you may visit [BASA’s official website](https://basa.co.za/grants/artist-relief-grants/)._ * * * _brought to you by Scholarships for Africans_ [**Scholarships for Africans**](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/) is a premier scholarship information blog committed to bringing more opportunities for Africans globally. They are part of the African Scholar Initiative, powered by Scholarship Hippo. 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Funding information

The funding information below is recorded in this listing; it does not establish additional covered components. Check amounts, caps, exclusions and conditions on the official source.

Relief grant funding

Artist Relief Grants – Opportunities for South African Creatives Affected by COVID-19 eligibility

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

South African artists and creatives affected by COVID-19

Artist Relief Grants – Opportunities for South African Creatives Affected by COVID-19 document information

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the materials the provider requests.

How to apply for the Artist Relief Grants – Opportunities for South African Creatives Affected by COVID-19 2026

Follow the provider's stated process. The checks below are guidance, not additional application requirements. Any original editorial instructions remain in the description above.

1
Check the provider's process
Consult https://basa.co.za/grants/artist-relief-grants/ to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there.
2
Check eligibility and any requested materials
Listed eligibility: South African artists and creatives affected by COVID-19. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist.
3
Check dates and next steps
Listed deadline information: Varies by grant. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

Artist Relief Grants – Opportunities for South African Creatives Affected by COVID-19 deadline & application timeline

Provider deadline information: Varies by grant. This text cannot be safely converted to a countdown; check the official source for its meaning. The earlier milestones are optional planning suggestions only.

Planning suggestion: 12 months out
Check the current call and decide whether this opportunity fits your plans.
Planning suggestion: 6 months out
If the provider requires tests or documents that take time, plan for them using its published instructions.
Planning suggestion: 3 months out
If an application is required, review the provider's process and prepare only the materials it requests.
Planning suggestion: 1 month out
If submission is required, allow time to check your materials and any stated cutoff.
Provider deadline
Varies by grant
Provider deadline information: Varies by grant. Confirm the current instructions and any cutoff or time zone on the official source; no additional time is assumed here.

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Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Artist Relief Grants – Opportunities for South African Creatives Affected by COVID-19?+

South African artists and creatives affected by COVID-19

What funding does the Artist Relief Grants – Opportunities for South African Creatives Affected by COVID-19 offer?+

Listed funding: Relief grant funding. Confirm amounts, exclusions and conditions on the official source. This label does not establish any additional benefit components.

When is the application deadline?+

Provider deadline information: Varies by grant. Confirm the current cutoff and any time zone on the official source; no additional cutoff or late-submission policy is assumed here.

What documents do I need to apply?+

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the documents requested by the provider; requirements may differ from admission requirements.

How do I check the application process?+

Consult https://basa.co.za/grants/artist-relief-grants/ to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there. Listed eligibility: South African artists and creatives affected by COVID-19. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist. Listed deadline information: Varies by grant. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

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