Known for providing a platform of choice for many young performers, the National Eisteddfod Academy, who has since 1997 developed the tradition form of the Welsh music and poetry festival, eisteddfod, into a no-limitations platform, takes culture to your doorstep with regional eisteddfod events where young (and not so young!) performers can experience the magic of the arts while singing, dancing, acting, playing and painting to their heart’s delight!

The National Eisteddfod Academy

• promotes and encourage participation in the arts
• manages the annual National Eisteddfod, a powerful tool for building self-confidence  and courage to take a stand in this world 
• provides a springboard to prepare talented performers for a career in the performing arts
• prides itself on giving young performers the sense of Ubuntu, a quality that embodies the universal bond of sharing and connecting communities.

The National Eisteddfod Academy is convinced that participation in the arts causes magic to happen in the human mind and body! This magic is the key to developing self-confidence and appreciating your own value as a human being. For this reason the National Eisteddfod of South Africa® is in essence an educational platform that supports the personal growth of participants. The National Eisteddfod of South Africa® is not a competition that limits participants to a 60 or 90 seconds performance where the outcome will only determine whether “you’re IN or OUT” (for whatever might follow next!)

The eisteddfod experience should not be limited to “so-called” talented performers only!  Eisteddfod participation benefits all participants due to the impact of arts activities on personal development and growth.

With this in mind, this eisteddfod process operates on two levels:

• For the (so-called) talented learner (who might follow a career in the arts) it provides an opportunity for expression and growth in a selected art form.
• For the majority of participants (who might not pursue a career in the arts), the eisteddfod process itself builds self-confidence, assertiveness and the courage to take a stand in this world.

   

The National Eisteddfod Academy has always considered the eisteddfod experience as a learning opportunity. For the NEA it is not merely another “Who’s got talent?” event. Adjudicators of the NEA Adjudicators Forum adjudicate all performances with a focus on the individual achievement. 

Participants are not compared with each other and no winners are announced in any of the adjudication sessions.  In its quest for excellence in adjudication the NEA has established clear guidelines regarding the expected levels of performance and has defined a style of adjudication that acknowledges individual achievement and emphasizes the joy of participation in the arts.

“Adjudication in the arts is not only an evaluation of a performance, but also the art of sensing possibility”, says Dr Francois van den Berg CEO of the National Eisteddfod Academy. “Adjudication deals with human beings and their feelings. An insensitive adjudicator can kill underlying potential and future interest in the arts”.

The Prospectus of the National Eisteddfod of South Africa comprises of the following sections that can be downloaded free of charge by registered individuals and institutions only. (To register, please click on the Login / Register button in the menu line.)

Click on any of the following topics for a brief overview of the various sections included in the Prospectus of the National Eisteddfod of South Africa:

• Confidence Builder
• Choral Music
• Instrumental Music(Classical and Contemporary)
  • Novice & Elementary Instrumental Music
  • Instrumental Music
• Vocal Music (Classical, Crossover and Contemporary)
  
  • Vocal Music
  • Music Theatre
• Dance
• Speech and Drama
• Creative Arts
• Participants with Different Abilities
• Indigenous Arts
• Registration and Entry Forms

Overview, Fees & Rules This section contains detailed information regarding the National Eisteddfod Academy, Rules & Regulations, Entry Fees & closing dates and Adjudication, as well as detailed instructions for registering online.

This section contains all the “hardcopy” versions   of the Registration and entry forms as required for the submission of entries in a “hard copy”format.

#Go to www.eisteddfod.co.za and select the Login / Register tab in the top right hand corner of the page.
#Select the Register Online tab  to complete the online registration form. 
#Once you have completed this process, you will receive a User code and password that should be used to login to the online entry page.
#This now gives you access to the complete Prospectus of the National Eisteddfod of South Africa^® . This also allows you to submit your entries online without the need to complete any forms.

1) Your login details gives you access to the complete Prospectus of the National Eisteddfod of South Africa®.

2) You can also use this login details to access the National Eisteddfod’s online entry page. If you prefer the traditional hardcopy entry format, you can also order a copy of the complete Prospectus from the NEA Office. You can them make copies of the various entry forms to complete and to submit to the NEA Office by email.

3) For a summary of the Prospectus please see the Prospectus button under “Entry Platfom” in the top menu line.

In the absence of sponsorships for the arts in recent years, income by way of the entry and door fees have been the main source of income to fund the activities of the National Eisteddfod of South Africa^®. The entry fees are determined by the following:

Read more about the closing dates and entry fees