- CAREERS & QUALIFICATIONS WITHIN VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS FIELD
- DANCE BURSARIES FOR 2027
- DRAMA & THEATRE BURSARIES FOR 2027
- FASHION & TEXTILE BURSARIES FOR 2027
- FILM & MOTION PICTURE BURSARIES FOR 2027
- FINE ART & VISUAL ART BURSARIES FOR 2027
- JEWELLERY DESIGN BURSARIES FOR 2027
- PERFORMING ART BURSARIES FOR 2027
- MUSIC BURSARIES FOR 2027
Visual and performing arts bursaries can help South African students fund qualifications in Dance, Drama, Theatre, Fashion, Film, Fine Art, Visual Art, Jewellery Design, Performing Arts and Music. Opportunities may support undergraduate or postgraduate study, depending on the bursary provider and qualification.
Use the sections below to find bursaries according to the career or qualification you want to pursue. Each bursary has its own approved fields of study, eligibility requirements and application dates.
See all bursaries OPEN for application here
CAREERS & QUALIFICATIONS WITHIN VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS FIELD
The visual and performing arts field includes careers that involve performance, design, visual communication, filmmaking, music and creative production. The qualification you choose will depend on the area of the arts you want to enter.
The table below gives examples of arts careers, typical qualifications in South Africa and indicative entry-level salary ranges. Income in the arts can vary considerably because many professionals work on a freelance, contract or project basis.
| CAREER | TYPICAL QUALIFICATION IN SOUTH AFRICA | ESTIMATED ENTRY-LEVEL SALARY |
|---|---|---|
| Dancer | BA Performing Arts / Dance qualification | R10,000–R20,000/month |
| Choreographer | BA Performing Arts / Dance | R12,000–R25,000/month |
| Actor | BA Drama / Theatre & Performance / Performing Arts | R10,000–R25,000/month |
| Theatre Director | BA Theatre & Performance / Performing Arts | R15,000–R30,000/month |
| Fashion Designer | Diploma / Degree in Fashion Design | R12,000–R25,000/month |
| Textile Designer | Diploma / Degree in Textile Design / Fashion | R12,000–R25,000/month |
| Film Producer | Degree / Diploma in Film & Television Production | R15,000–R35,000/month |
| Film Director | Degree / Diploma in Film & Television | R15,000–R35,000/month |
| Cinematographer | Degree / Diploma in Film / Cinematography | R15,000–R30,000/month |
| Video Editor | Degree / Diploma in Film, Television or Multimedia | R12,000–R25,000/month |
| Fine Artist | BA Visual Arts / Fine Art | R8,000–R20,000/month |
| Visual Artist | BA Visual Arts / Fine Art | R10,000–R22,000/month |
| Jewellery Designer | Diploma / Degree in Jewellery Design | R10,000–R22,000/month |
| Musician | BMus / BA Music / Diploma in Music | R10,000–R25,000/month |
| Music Producer | BMus / Diploma in Music Production / Sound | R12,000–R30,000/month |
| Sound Engineer | Diploma / Degree in Sound Engineering | R12,000–R25,000/month |
Salary figures are indicative estimates and are not guaranteed. Actual income can vary according to experience, employer, location, professional reputation, freelance work and the type of creative projects undertaken.
DANCE BURSARIES FOR 2027
Dance bursaries can support students pursuing formal training or tertiary qualifications in Dance and Performing Arts. Depending on the provider, applicants may also need to demonstrate practical ability or artistic talent.
- Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship
- FAME Academy SA Bursaries
- National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) Bursaries
- NYDA Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund
- Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship
- Canon Collins Scholarships
Check the individual opportunity to confirm whether Dance is an approved field and whether the funding is for a university qualification, specialist arts institution or another form of training.
DRAMA & THEATRE BURSARIES FOR 2027
Drama and Theatre qualifications can prepare students for careers in acting, directing, theatre production, writing, performance and other stage-related roles. Common qualifications include a Bachelor of Performing Arts, Drama or Theatre and Performance degree.
- Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship
- FAME Academy SA Bursaries
- National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) Bursaries
- Absa Fellowship / Scholarship Programme
- Canon Collins Scholarships
- NYDA Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund
Applicants should check whether the bursary supports Drama, Theatre, Theatre and Performance or Performing Arts, as providers may use different names for related qualifications.
FASHION & TEXTILE BURSARIES FOR 2027
Fashion and Textile qualifications cover areas such as fashion design, textile development, clothing technology and apparel production. These studies can lead to careers in fashion design, textile design, clothing technology and related creative industries.
- FEDISA Fashion School Bursary
- Gert-Johan Coetzee Bursary
- Cape Wools SA Bursary Fund
- KZN Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Bursary
- The Foschini Group Bursary
- Truworths Bursary
- W&RSETA Bursary
- NYDA Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund
Fashion and Textile bursaries may have specific qualification or institution requirements. Confirm that your exact course is approved before applying.
FILM & MOTION PICTURE BURSARIES FOR 2027
Film and Motion Picture studies cover the creative and technical work involved in producing films and television content. Qualifications can lead to careers in directing, producing, cinematography, editing, screenwriting, sound and other production roles.
- National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) Bursary
- KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission Bursary
- KZN Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Bursary
- KwaZulu-Natal Government Bursaries
- Gauteng Film Commission Bursary
- Film School Africa Bursary
- eMedia Bursary
- Netflix Scholarship
- NFVF International Bursary
- NYDA Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund
The NFVF Bursary is specifically focused on Film and Television-related studies and can support both undergraduate and postgraduate study. It does not fund performing arts, acting, music or dance qualifications.
FINE ART & VISUAL ART BURSARIES FOR 2027
Fine Art and Visual Art qualifications can cover areas such as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, digital art and other visual disciplines. Students can pursue careers as artists, curators, art educators, designers, photographers and arts practitioners.
- South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Art Scholarship
- Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship
- National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) Bursaries
- Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation Bursary
- Dudley D’Ewes Scholarship
- ISFAP Bursary
- NYDA Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund
- Absa Fellowship / Scholarship Programme
- Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship
- The Lockdown Collection (TLC) Bursary
The SARB Art Scholarship is specifically for Fine Arts and includes selected undergraduate and postgraduate Fine Arts qualifications. Its 2027 scholarship also requires applicants to submit examples of their artwork as part of the application.
JEWELLERY DESIGN BURSARIES FOR 2027
Jewellery Design combines creative design with practical skills in materials, metals and jewellery production. Students can study qualifications such as Jewellery Design and Manufacturing or related Visual Arts programmes with a jewellery specialisation.
- KwaZulu-Natal Government Bursaries
- KZN Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Bursary
- Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) Bursary
- NYDA Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund
- Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship
- Canon Collins Scholarships
Jewellery Design is not automatically included in every Visual Arts bursary. Confirm that Jewellery Design or the specific qualification you intend to study is listed among the approved fields.
PERFORMING ART BURSARIES FOR 2027
Performing Arts covers creative disciplines that are presented before an audience, including acting, dance, singing and related performance work. Depending on the programme, students can pursue qualifications in Performing Arts, Theatre and Performance, Drama or related fields.
- Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship
- FAME Academy SA Bursaries
- Fine Music Radio (FMR) Bursary
- Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation Bursary
- National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) Bursaries
- Absa Fellowship / Scholarship Programme
- Canon Collins Scholarships
- NYDA Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund
- Dudley D’Ewes Scholarship
Some Performing Arts scholarships require an audition, portfolio, performance or other demonstration of artistic ability. Check the individual opportunity for its selection requirements.
MUSIC BURSARIES FOR 2027
Music bursaries can support students studying performance, composition, music production, sound and other music-related disciplines. Depending on the qualification, students can pursue careers as musicians, composers, music producers, teachers and sound professionals.
- Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Nyoloha Scholarship
- Fine Music Radio (FMR) Bursary
- SAMRO Bursary
- South African Society of Music Teachers (SASMT) Bursaries
- National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) Bursaries
- FAME Academy SA Bursaries
- NYDA Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund
- Goethe Talents Scholarship
- Revolution Media Academy Bursary
- ISFAP Bursary
Music funding can differ significantly between performance, composition, music education, production and sound-related qualifications. Check the approved field and study level for each opportunity before applying.
Important: Bursary availability, eligibility requirements, approved qualifications and closing dates can change. Always check the individual bursary information and the provider’s latest announcement before applying.