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Closing date: 30 June 2025 at 23:59

 

Heritage Funding Open Call for 2025/26

 

The National Heritage Council (NHC) – an entity of the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture (DSAC) is pleased to announce an open call for applications to community projects that seek to preserve and promote our country’s heritage through research, documentation, and publication as well heritage knowledge and skills transfer.

The closing date for applications is 30 June 2025.

 

Preference will be given to projects that involves youth, women, people with disabilities and indigenous groups. Applicants must be South African citizens and be registered on the NHC Funding Portal to qualify for support. 

 

Submitted proposals must showcase:

  • Novel Techniques → New, creative, or different ways of working with heritage (Be innovative; and explore the use of technology).
  • Innovative Models → Fresh ideas that could be scaled up or replicated elsewhere to benefit the heritage sector.
  • Sustainability → Projects should demonstrate the ability to be sustainable over a period of time.
  • Cultural Importance → Help South Africans connect to, understand, and value their cultural heritage even more deeply.

 

The funding will be available for project proposals in three main categories:

a. Living Heritage

Living Heritage refers to the indigenous knowledge, cultural practices, and cultural expressions that are passed down from generation to generation.

Proposals should focus on the following areas:

  • Research and Documentation: exploring, documenting and analysing of living heritage practices, including oral histories, African knowledge systems and skills, ethnographies.
  • Digitisation of indigenous South African traditional cultural collections associated with living heritage.
  • Documentation (writeup and virtual recording) of Knowledge and Skills transfer focussing on the Preservation of Khoi and San Indigenous Knowledge Systems.

 

b. Cultural History, Natural History and Resistance Heritage

This refers to any form of historical and culturally significant milestones that shaped the country’s identity and events that symbolise resistance and the struggle for liberation.

Proposals should focus on the following areas:

  • Research and Documentation (write up and virtual) of Traditional and Khoi San Leaders in South Africa; focussing processes regarding the succession, their roles and contribution towards the resistance against colonialism and liberation of South Africa.
  • Documentation of Sacred Sites and Great Places associated with cultural practices and liberation struggles in South Africa.

 

Projects that require approval from any statutory body, such as the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) or the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority (PHRA) in the provinces must attach proof of such approval when applying for funding.

 

c. Education & Training

Proposals should focus on the following areas:

  • Heritage Awareness and Public Education, based on the transfer of knowledge and skills on living heritage to foster social cohesion and nation building. This include but is not limited to:
  • imparting of traditional skills and knowledge (i.e. basket weaving and beading).
  • Workshops (memorial lectures, intergenerational dialogues) on heritage education targeting learners and community members.

 

Please note:

  • all education and training programmes are to produce a written manuscript.
  • performances, ceremonies and associated events are to support research and documentation).

 

The following business formations are invited to apply:

  • Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs)
  • Non-Profit Companies (NPCs)
  • Community Based Organisations (CBOs)
  • Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
  • Associations
  • Foundations
  • Research/ Education Institutions participating in heritage projects
  • Community Trusts (NB: Family Trusts excluded)
  • Traditional Councils

  

The following business formations will not be eligible for funding:

  • Closed Corporations (CCs)
  • Family Trusts
  • Individuals
  • Pty Ltd
  • Profit Making Organisations (Section 21 for gain)
  • Cooperatives
  • Incorporated companies (Inc)

 

Excluded project types

The following types of projects will not be eligible for funding:

  • All artistic performances.
  • All film/video/theatre and drama production, including related activities.
  • All projects with implementation targeted outside the borders of SA.
  • Proposals applying for formal qualifications (SETA Accredited qualifications).
  • Projects applying for capital expenditure (equipment, infrastructure, structures, renovations, and maintenance).
  • Projects applying for operational costs (rent, salaries, office furniture) etc.
  • Proposals without the required approvals and lack the necessary supporting documents from statutory bodies such as the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) or the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority (PHRA) in the provinces.
  • Proposals applying for funding to do Heritage Impact Assessments.

 

All active projects within the NHC public funding - which are still implementing and have not submitted their final report should not apply.

 

Application and submission process

Applications are completed and submitted online using the Grant Management System (GMS). To register, please visit www.nhc.praxisgms.co.za

 

No physical applications (emailed/faxed/hand delivered) will be accepted. The portal will close at midnight on the closing date and no late applications will be accepted. 

 

Applicants are required to upload compliance documents as listed in the upload section of the funding portal.

 

Compliance documents include the following amongst others:

  • Company/organisation registration certificate/Deed of Trust/Articles of Association.
  • Signed Organisation's Constitution/ Association of Articles.
  • Valid Tax Clearance Certificate with a pin code number.
  • Latest bank confirmation letter for newly registered organisations with a letter from the Audit firm/Registered Accountant OR Audited Financial Statements for organisations registered that have been in operation for more than one (1) year.
  • Certified identity documents of authorised persons.
  • Proposal with a project plan and an itemised budget.
  • Letter(s) of Research Permit on 3rd Party research work, if applicable.
  • Appointment/Delegation Letter for a Project Manager from the Board.
  • Business Profile.
  • NHC Authorisation and Signatory Form.

 

Applicants that fail to submit compliance documents will be disqualified.

 

NB: Only one application per organisation is permitted during any funding call and season. This funding advert is aligned with the NHC Funding Policy.

 

Enquiries

Email enquiries are preferred and should be sent to funding@nhc.org.za or written on the GMS discussion board. Telephonic enquiries can be directed to (012) 748 3910 (reception).

 

NB:  The NHC reserves the right not to allocate funding.

Should you not hear from the NHC within 90 days, consider your application unsuccessful.