BASA: The benefits of belonging

CN&CO, along with many of our partners and associates, has a happy and fruitful relationship with Business and Arts South Africa, which does great work in bringing business to the arts and the arts to business. But why join an organisation such as BASA? We consulted with the BASA website to find out. Here (verbatim from https://www.basa.co.za/home-page/connect/basa-membership/become-a-member/) are the benefits of belonging to this incredible organisation…


Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) NPC currently has diverse members, ranging from large corporates to individual entrepreneurs. We provide a bespoke service, research, resources, support and information in your endeavour to leverage your company within the arts sector and create valuable partnerships.The benefits we are able to offer our members include:

The benefits we are able to offer our members include:

1.Access to Information, Research and Impartial Advisory Service
BASA has an extensive body of research to support our members, including:

a. Identifying potential opportunities (in terms of Sponsorship, Corporate Social Investment, HR including BBBEE and Shared Value) within the arts sector, based on a brief provided by a company, with the aim of brokering partnerships. A number of mutually successful and ongoing business-arts partnerships have been forged through BASA (all information is treated as confidential), with the support of our research team.

b. Access to similar international organisations, case studies, experience from elsewhere in the world, and research from our own local projects.

c. BASA members receive copies of the bi-annual ArtsTrack , our series of research reports focusing on attitudes of the corporate sector, the public and the media towards the arts. The document also offers case studies pertaining to the value of the arts.

d. Access to Research on Funding, Education, Corporate Sponsorship and more.

2. Networking and Introductions

3. Access to events

a. During the year various events are scheduled specifically for BASA members. These events include the Africa Business Breakfasts, Foundry Dinners, Conduct an Orchestra, BASA Awards, the Young Professionals Programme and the Symposium. These events offer thought provoking engagements with the arts, identifying the power of Arts Based Initiatives and Arts Based Intelligence.

b. Members regularly receive invitations to opening nights or premieres of arts events. BASA also provides direct access to tickets and events of your own personal choice.

c. Member companies partner with BASA, at their discretion, in events targeting fellow members.

4. Publicity and Promotion

We have initiated a passionate and assertive marketing and publicity campaign to drive recognition and third party endorsement of businesses, arts organisations, and the beneficiaries that they serve through their partnerships. Our Media Partners are:

Kaya FM – Business and Arts Feature on the “Kaya FM Bizz” business slot
Thursdays 17:25
Creativefeel Magazine – CEO Column
Wanted Magazine – CEO Column

5. Bespoke Service
We offer personalised and strategic support, advice and IP to business wanting to leverage its engagement with the arts. Businesses receive:

a. Friends of Business and Arts South Africa and companies with 1 – 49 employees: one hours free consultation, thereafter per hour billing.

b. Companies with 50 – 199 employees: two hours free consultation, thereafter per hour billing.

c. Companies with 200 – 1000 employees: four hours free consultation, thereafter per hour billing.

d. Companies with more than 1000 employees: five hours free consultation, thereafter per hour billing.

6. Corporate Social Investment, Human Resource, Marketing, and Shared Value Support

7. Supporting Grants – A Public Private Partnership

Businesses who partner with Arts Organisations, providing in-kind support or funding, are able to apply for a Supporting Grant. The monies of the grant are to be used to market and leverage the relationship further, providing real value to the business and the arts project.

BASA gives preference to Supporting Grant Applicants that are partnered by a BASA member.

8. Arts-based initiatives for business

  1. The events listed in point 3 above, including the BASA Awards, Conduct the Orchestra, BASA Research Colloquium, Foundry Dinners, amongst others, offer thought provoking engagements with the arts, identifying the power of arts-based initiatives and arts-based intelligence.
  1. The BASA Business Exchange Programme:
    1. The BoardBank Programme is a resource for all registered arts/cultural organisations, enabling them to fulfill their governance requirements, while also securing the necessary expertise at a strategic board level. Potential board members are taken through a Duties and Liabilities Workshop, in order to support their progress on an arts Board. Once they have successfully completed the workshop, they are matched with a suitable arts organisation in need of their respective skills.
    1. The Mentorship Programme provides real value for both mentor and mentee offering experience and learning.
    1. Given that the arts offer EQ, CQ, innovation, and imagination in the corporate space, BASA offers an introduction to the arts through arts-based initiatives in the Young Business Professionals Programme. This offer is particularly valuable to young professionals in a corporate environment who need full immersion into the arts in order to support their business practice. We can offer your graduate programme experiential learning opportunities through the arts.

Having piloted and tested various events and processes, the Business Exchange Programme is under review and restructure to ensure maximum efficiency and impact.

9. BASA Awards

The annual BASA Awards assist BASA in promoting mutually beneficial, equitable and sustainable business partnerships with the arts, and encourage excellence and innovation in this area. They are a platform for identifying best practice examples of business and arts partnerships. These Awards showcase how the arts can be a tool for bringing about transformation, and how business can assist them in doing so. They recognise and pay tribute to businesses who have engaged with the arts – be it through Marketing, CSI, BBBEE, HR or Shared Value. The event sees around 350 guests – businesses, members of government and arts organisations attending, and the keynote address is made by the Minister of Arts and Culture. It is considered an important calendar event by business, as it supports those who champion the arts, understanding the value of the arts in society.

10. Advocacy and Government

BASA is involved in arts advocacy, and lobbies government on a variety of issues and projects. These include issues of funding and fundraising, as regards tax benefits for our members. Where possible, we make introductions to Public Private Partnership opportunities.

11. Arts Sponsorship Management Toolkit

The Arts Sponsorship Management Toolkit is created to give South African businesses a means to navigating a sponsorship cycle.

12. International Engagement

BASA has been involved in projects in Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Canada. Through our international engagement, we are able to offer businesses opportunities, which identify the arts as a progressive enabler.

13. Membership Fees 2018-2019

Business and Arts South Africa’s ongoing engagement with the Arts means that we are constantly able to offer fresh, relevant and exciting opportunities to our members, with various options to suit individual needs. The annual membership fees for 2018-2019 are:

R33 550.00 excl VAT (companies with more than 1000 employees)
R15 950.00 excl VAT (companies with 200-1000 employees)
R8 800.00 excl VAT (companies with 50-199 employees)
R3 355.00 excl VAT (companies with 1-49 employees)
R3 190.00 excl VAT (Friends of Business and Arts South Africa)

For more information or to become a member contact aviwe@basa.co.za or (011) 447-2295