The Arts and Culture Venture Capital is a funding scheme provided by the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) who's  role is to support Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE).

Arts and Culture Venture Capital

The fund is designed to promote and develop the arts and culture sector by providing affordable loans to start and/or expand small businesses. It is an important source of finance for start-up entities and for companies that have limited operating history which do not have access to capital markets.

The Department of Arts and Culture realises that in order to achieve radical economic transformation, access to funding must not be limited to few businesses. The Funds will assist businesses with potential to be self-sustainable and not rely on government for grant funding. Funding will be made available to businesses in all provinces, where more job opportunities will be created.

Qualifying criteria:

• All compliance requirements listed below must be submitted;
• A brief profile of artists that will be performing to be included in the business plan;
• Justification for proposed pricing of the event and line up of artists. Demonstration of the artists’ ability to draw a crowd must be submitted as part of the business plan;
• There must be commercial returns at the end of the project, in other words the revenue to be made through ticket sales must exceed the total cost of the event;
• The venue to be used must be available, have enough capacity and be suitable for the event;
• Reputable distribution channel must be used for ticket sales; and
• A demonstration of how the proposed timing of the show is the optimal, that is, it should not coincide with other events that may compromise the ticket sales.

Compliance Requirements

• Completed NEF application form;
• Business plan and projected Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement for the duration of the funding period;
• Cash flow projections indicating how the loan will be repaid over the term and the loan duration;
• Registration documents as a legal entity;
• Valid tax clearance certificate;
• Minimum of 50.1% shareholding by black South African citizens as defined in the B-BBEE Act who are resident within the borders of South Africa;
• In need of start-up or expansion capital;
• Require loan from Arts and Culture Venture Capital Fund of not less than R250,000 and not more than R5 million; However applicants are welcome to apply for normal NEF funding above R5 million;
• Loan repayment should be within twenty four (24) months;
• Own contribution of 5% or more towards the project;
• Audited/reviewed financial statements for the past three years along with management accounts not older than three months ONLY for businesses that have been in operation;
• A minimum of three (3) months must be provided between the closing date of the advert and the actual date when the first disbursement on the loan is required to allow enough time for the project;
• All quotations must be submitted with the application form which amounts to the funding requirement. A minimum of three quotations for procuring goods and services unless if it is a procurement of a unique service such as artists;
• Business must have an active bank account;
• Financing any asset such as equipment or infrastructure must be for the purpose of start-ups or expansion with existing contracts or orders;
• Social impact in the form of job creation and economic empowerment by indicating how many job opportunities will be created; Employment numbers must be stated by race, gender,disability,etc. for the project to be funded;
• Applicants should be actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the business. If applicant is employed full time, he/she may be required to resign from his/her employment and provide the Fund manager with proof of resignation;
• Necessary skills, experience or with the potential skill appropriate for the enterprise to succeed;
• Have a profit motive and clearly indicate how the loan will be repaid;
• Applicant’s projections must show growth prospect in order to be self-sustainable in future; and
• Brief profile and financial strength to settle projected receipts when due of the applicant’s customer(s) or sponsor(s)

How to apply

Download Application Form

Please note:

• Required documents are listed in the application form.
• Regrettably, if you do not submit all of these documents together there will be a delay in processing your application form.
• From receipt of the application to approval stage the process can take 6 to 8 weeks.
• Our process period is 3 to 4 months on receipt of the application up to  disbursement stage.

Send Applications to: applications@nefcorp.co.za

Contact us

For enquiries visit or contact your nearest office:

Gauteng Province (Head Office)
West Block, 187 Rivonia Road, Morningside 2057, PO Box 31, Melrose Arch, Melrose North 2076

Tel: +27 (11) 305 8000 

Fax: +27 (11) 305 8001

Call Centre: 0861 843 633 | 0861 (THE NEF)

Email (Applications): applications@nefcorp.co.za

Email (General Enquiries): info@nefcorp.co.za

Eastern Cape Province
7b Derby Road, Berea, East London 5241
Tel: (043) 783 4200 | 0861 NEF ECP (0861 633 327)

Fax: 0861 ECP NEF (0861 327 633)
Email: easterncape@nefcorp.co.za

Free State Province
34 Fountain Towers, Corner Zastron and Markgraaf Street, Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9300
Tel: (051) 407 6360 | 0861 NEF FSP (0861 633 377)

Fax: 0861 FSP NEF (0861 377 633)
Email: freestate@nefcorp.co.za

KwaZulu-Natal Province
Smart X - Change Building, 5 Walnut Road, Durban, 4001
Tel: (031) 301 1960 | 0861 NEF KZN (0861 633 596)

Fax: 0861 KZN NEF (0861 596 633)
Email: kzn@nefcorp.co.za

Limpopo Province
Suite 8, Biccard Park, 43 Biccard Street, Polokwane 0699
Tel: (015) 294 9200 | 0861 NEF LIM (0861 633 546)

Fax: 0861 LIM NEF (0861 546 633)
Email: limpopo@nefcorp.co.za

Mpumalanga Province
Trust Building, 16 Brander Street, Nelspruit, 1200
Tel: (013) 754 9860 | 0861 NEF MPU (0861 633 678) | 013 754 9860

Fax: 0861 MPU NEF (0861 678 633)
Email: mpumalanga@nefcorp.co.za

North West Province
32B Heystek Street, Sunetco Office Park, Ground Floor, Rustenburg, 0299
Tel: (014) 523 9220 | 0861 NEF NWP (0861 633 697)

Fax: 0861 NWP NEF (0861 697 633)
Email: northwest@nefcorp.co.za

Western Cape Province
Suite 2818, 28th Floor, ABSA Centre, 2 Riebeek Street, Cape Town 8001
Tel: (021) 431 4760 | 0861 NEF WCP (0861 633 927)
Fax: 0861 WCP NEF (0861 927 633) 

Email: westerncape@nefcorp.co.za