The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is pleased to announce the 2 mentors for the 2025 edition of the annual ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP). Esteemed photographer, multimedia designer, and arts facilitator Dahlia Maubane is the visual and digital arts mentor, and performing arts industry expert and actor Grant Towers returns to the programme for the second year as performing arts mentor.
A graduate of the University of Johannesburg and the Market Photo Workshop, Maubane is best known for her ongoing project, Woza Sisi, which explores the lives of women street hairstylists in Johannesburg. Her work has been exhibited both locally and internationally, including as a solo show at the Dialogue Vintage Photography Festival in Amsterdam. She has received several accolades such as the Market Photo Workshop Alumnus Award, the Ampersand Foundation Fellowship, and first prize in the Urban Spaces and Public Life mentorship programme. In 2023, she co-launched the Woza Sisi publication and exhibition to empower women photographers, and was named one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans.
Grant Towers has been active in the live performance industry for over a decade, frequently treading Gauteng’s stages in pantomimes, musical theatre productions, and operas. Grant received a SATmag Award for best supporting actor in a musical in 2016 for his performance as Fanie Els in Altyd in My Drome. His performances in Chicago: The Musical (South Africa) the International Tour (Amos Hart, 2018–2020), and Pinocchio (Arletti Spaghetti, 2017) landed him 2 Naledi nominations in 2018 and 2020 respectively. His talents also extend into the industries of dubbing, directing, advertisements, television, education, and film.
As part of this year’s scholarship programme, ACT will roll out a digital-immersive technologies training curriculum delivered by Soda Studios, a leading immersive technology specialist aiming to equip visual and performing arts participants with an orientation to job-ready skills in the digital and mixed-reality art space. The mixed-reality and artificial intelligence (AI) course will be conducted by company founder Michael Balkind, who brings extensive experience in the music, culture, marketing, and immersive technologies.
‘We’re excited to welcome Grant back to the ACT NSP, and to have Dahlia join this year’s cohort,’ says Jessica Denyschen, CEO of ACT. ‘Their participation reflects the dynamic growth of the programme, which continues to evolve in response to the changing creative landscape. With new training in mixed reality and AI, we’re equipping young artists with the tools to innovate and thrive in both traditional and emerging industries.’
Established in partnership with long terms sponsors Nedbank and Sun International and returning sponsors the MTN Foundation SA and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), the ACT NSP is an undergraduate scholarship initiative designed to empower qualifying youth with opportunities to pursue tertiary or accredited education in visual and performing arts. The programme also aims to equip practising artists with career-accelerating skills, ensuring sustainable careers in the contemporary job market of the cultural and creative industries.
The selected candidates will engage in a 3-month bi-weekly mentorship and training programme conducted online on Saturdays. The programme includes mentorship with industry experts, with a focus on discipline-specific knowledge and application. The 2025 iteration of the programme encompasses an explorative development on the inclusion of AI and immersive technologies in the visual and performing arts.
The culmination of the ACT NSP will see a selection of 15 finalists that will move ahead post-training phase to participate in an intensive week of master classes and rehearsals, resulting in a final performing arts showcase and exhibition based on which 1 of 2 scholarships to the value of R300 000 each will be awarded. Participants will gain valuable experience by working with industry professionals and get the opportunity to connect with emerging artists from diverse backgrounds.
Under the mentorship of Maubane and Towers, this year’s ACT NSP finalists have the opportunity to learn from seasoned practitioners who bring both creative excellence and industry insight. Their guidance empowers participants to refine their artistic voices, build professional skills, and navigate the evolving landscape of the South African creative sector with confidence and purpose.
Poovi Pillay, Executive Head of Social Impact Unit at Nedbank, says: ‘Upskilling our NSP participants with AI, mixed-reality, and digital performance techniques can be a game-changer for their careers and getting South Africa’s rich content and originality out into the world. Add to this the phenomenal mentorship of Dahlia Maubane and Grant Towers, and we are very excited to see how this year’s participants progress over the next few months.’
Heidi Edson, Group Socioeconomic Development Specialist at Sun International, says: ‘In 2025, the ACT NSP continues to connect talented and ambitious young people from across South Africa with the professional arts world through guided mentorship and structured learning. With the support of partners like Nedbank and dedicated industry experts, the programme plays a vital role at the grassroots level, planting the seeds for stronger, more inclusive creative futures. Together as partners we are building a new tomorrow.’
‘Congratulations to the ACT team for their selection of this year’s NSP mentors and we look forward to working with such valued veterans from the creative industry. At the MTN Foundation we believe in valuable strategic partnerships, that enables such mentorships, and a chance for industry leaders and specialists to contribute towards the socio-economic development of our youth,’ says Niel Nortjé, Manager of the MTN Art Collection.