The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has officially announced the launch of the National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA), a major new initiative aimed at recognizing excellence across South Africa’s cultural and creative industries.
The department has released the rules and guidelines for the awards after conducting what officials describe as a “thorough process” to ensure proper stakeholder involvement. The awards program has been designed with principles of inclusivity, openness, transparency, and fairness at its core.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie emphasised the importance of the awards, stating, “These awards play a vital role in the creative industry by recognising excellence, boosting morale, inspiring, and creating a vibrant nation, and promoting a culture of innovation. They also enhance the reputation of winners and organisations, attracting new opportunities and collaborations.”
The Minister added that the awards would “foster a sense of community and inspiration within the creative field whilst also benchmarking ourselves against the best.”
According to the department, the NACA initiative offers strategic benefits including:
- Creating a major award platform for creatives to engage with sponsors, clients, and audiences
- Building stronger and more meaningful relationships within the industry
- Increasing awareness and profiles of award winners
- Attracting media attention and potential partnerships
- Enhancing international marketability for South African creatives
The awards program encompasses seven categories with a total of 30 individual awards:
Heritage Site Category (3 Awards)
- Outstanding Museum Award
- Outstanding Archaeological & Historical Site Award
- Outstanding Cultural Landscape Award
Visual Arts & Craft Category (4 Awards)
- Outstanding Visual Artist Award
- Outstanding Curator Award
- Outstanding Crafter Award
- Outstanding Art Gallery Award
Literary Works Category (4 Awards)
- Outstanding Children Fiction Book Award
- Outstanding Fiction Book Award
- Outstanding Non-Fiction Book Award
- Outstanding Publisher Award
Audio Visual & Interactive Media Category (6 Awards)
- Outstanding Fiction Film Award
- Outstanding Documentary Film or TV Award
- Outstanding Drama TV Award
- Outstanding Actor TV and Film Award
- Outstanding Animation Award
- Outstanding Gaming Award
Design & Creative Services (4 Awards)
- Outstanding Fashion and Textile Designer Award
- Outstanding Graphic & Multimedia Designer Award
- Outstanding Product Award
- Outstanding Architecture and Interior Designer Award
Performing Arts Category (6 Awards)
- Outstanding Theatre Production Award
- Outstanding Dance Production Award
- Outstanding Musician Award
- Outstanding Actor in Theatre Award
- Outstanding Performance Award – Poet
- Outstanding Performance Award – Comedian
Ministry Discretionary Category (3 Awards) These special awards will be decided, announced, and presented directly by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture:
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Bestowed to individuals with 20+ years of documented achievement and outstanding contribution to the South African creative industry nationally and internationally.
- Internationally Recognised Artist or Group Award – Presented to artists or groups that have received international recognition and performed on international platforms for five years or more.
- Artist with Disability Award – Awarded to a person with a disability who has achieved excellence in their craft within the creative and cultural industries.
To ensure integrity in the selection process, all NACA categories will be adjudicated by a nomination review committee composed of industry experts, alongside an auditing firm that will provide additional checks and balances.
The call for entries opens on May 5, 2025, and closes on May 21, 2025, at 17:00. The complete rules and guidelines for the NACA Awards are available on the official website: https://naca.dsac.gov.za.
For inquiries, interested parties can contact Ms. Zimasa Velaphi, Chief Director of Marketing and Communications, at zimasav@dsac.gov.za or 072 172 8925.
