Relief Fund for jazz musicians based in South Africa
Applicants for the Jazz Relief Fund have closed.
The Levedo Foundation [Basel, Switzerland] is making short-term basic income relief grants available to professional jazz musicians in South Africa, whose livelihoods have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The relief grants are available for a six-month period and all applications should be submitted by midnight on Sunday, 28 March 2021.
The fund
The Levedo Foundation – based in Basel, Switzerland – has played an important role in supporting collaboration in the jazz field between Switzerland and South Africa over a number of years. With an understanding of the profound impact of the pandemic on the livelihoods of jazz musicians, the Foundation now extends an existing support scheme for Swiss jazz musicians to their counterparts in South Africa.
The Foundation has partnered with Pro Helvetia Johannesburg, the regional liaison office of the Swiss Arts Council located in South Africa, to act on its behalf in the management and distribution of the relief fund.
This finance is made available in exceptional circumstances, as a short-term measure to support jazz musicians in South Africa during this difficult period. It is important to emphasise that such funding is not part of the normal mandate of either organisation, and these measures are not foreseen to be sustained beyond the stated six-month period.
Application criteria
Applicants should meet the following key criteria to receive support:
- you are principally/primarily based in and active in South Africa (regardless of your citizenship)
- you are actively participating in the broadly defined jazz field as a performer or composer
- you have a professional track record of at least a year of involvement in performance and/or recording jazz music, with some portion of your income being derived from this source.
- You have experienced loss of income as a result of the restrictions and public health measures imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such loss of earnings may relate to both music and non-music related income.
The award of grants will be informed by a basic assessment of your circumstances and needs, based on information you supply.
Review process and timeline
A panel of experts with diverse knowledge and experience of the South African jazz field has been appointed to evaluate applications and make recommendations to the Foundation and Pro Helvetia Johannesburg on the allocation of grants.
Following the closing deadline [28 March 2021], applicants should receive notification of the result of their application by the end of April.
We encourage applicants to submit applications in advance of the deadline, as this will assist in speeding up the processing time required, and in turn allow for speedier review by the panel and response on applications.
Application process
Please download and use the application form provided on this page. Note that only applications submitted through this form will be considered.
Privacy of information
Personal data provided for the purposes of the relief fund application will only be used to review individual applications. Applicants’ data will not be shared with parties outside of the review panel, and you will not be subscribed to unsolicited marketing lists or databases.
Applicants’ personal information will not be shared with external or third parties.
Helpdesk
Due to current lockdown regulations, the Pro Helvetia Johannesburg team is working remotely. Enquiries can be directed to johannesburg@prohelvetia.org.
