The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) has appointed visual artist Dahlia Maubane and performer-producer Lungile Themba as mentors for the 2026 ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme (NSP) in South Africa. Maubane will guide participants in visual and digital arts, while Themba will oversee the performing arts stream.
The annual initiative offers mentorship, training, and industry exposure to young South African creatives pursuing tertiary education. The 2026 edition will feature a four-month online mentorship and training programme with sessions held every two weeks. Participants will receive discipline-specific guidance and explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive technologies in the arts.
Mentor backgrounds
Maubane, a Johannesburg-based photographer and multimedia designer, is known for the ongoing project Woza Sisi, which examines identity, beauty, and storytelling in Black communities. A graduate of the University of Johannesburg and the Market Photo Workshop, she has exhibited work locally and internationally and was named among The Mail & Guardian‘s 200 Young South Africans.
Themba works across performance, musical storytelling, film, media, and live production, often focusing on presenting African historical narratives to modern audiences. He created SIKELELA: The Enoch Sontonga Story, which received recognition in the Outstanding Theatre Production category at the 2025 National Arts and Culture Awards.
Programme structure and partners
ACT CEO Jessica Denyschen said the trust is delighted to welcome Themba and to have Maubane continue her involvement. “Dahlia returns to the programme with invaluable insight gained through the 2025 mentorship experience, and we are excited to see her support and guide a new cohort of visual and digital artists as they navigate their journeys towards professional creative careers,” Denyschen said. She added that Themba’s extensive experience across performance, production, and creative entrepreneurship will help ensure performing arts participants “emerge both polished in their craft and future-focused in their professional development.”
The programme is backed by long-term partners Nedbank and Sun International, along with returning sponsor the MTN Foundation South Africa. Eleven finalists will advance to a production and exhibition showcase hosted at partner community arts centres across the country. The programme will culminate in a winners’ media event where two finalists will each be awarded a scholarship valued at R300,000 to support a tertiary arts qualification.
