The creative industry
The energy of the arts South Africa can lay claim to some of the oldest art in the world: the 4,000-year-old cave paintings of the San Bushmen. Today, as the soft power of creativity and culture gets increasing recognition, the creative scene is a fast growing sector with huge potential, while the continent as a whole has the youngest population in the world, a combination creating an exciting and new creative landscape
Estimates show the GDP contribution of the cultural and creative industries was just over R62 billion or 1.7 per cent of the total GDP in 2017. A 2018 South African Cultural Observatory mapping study shows the greater cultural economy employs 6.94 per cent of the national workforce and generates one million jobs. A thriving and growing film industry, South Africa is a leading services destination for blockbuster movie productions in Africa by Disney, Warner Brothers and Sony. It is seeing a boom in the visual arts and big growth in African design. There is enormous potential in the creative sector as the creative industries drive demand and development in technology, with virtual reality, augmented reality, AI and blockchain disrupting production and consumption of creative content.
“We have seen a lot of support and development over the last 15 years; it is a really good time to be part of the industry. SA arts are special because they grew independently during the apartheid era and when SA opened to the world we had a strong independent base on which to grow. We are an emerging economy but with established infrastructure so we are a great gateway to the continent. SA arts are new and exciting for an international audience; the cosmopolitan mix of people and the intersection between international contemporary practice and traditional practice makes it exciting.” Molemo Moiloa, Creative Industry Consultant “There is such an exciting energy in SA at the moment. It’s incredible to see the role of the creative industries in areas like finding sustainable solutions through design. A housing project looking at innovative design for low cost housing models is one of the many projects that comes from the creative spirit and energy that Design INDABA houses and grows nationally and internationally. It’s a fantastic place for events. We can, we have and we will continue to do that.” Annabell Lebethe, CEO Dipthong Museums
Zeitz MOCAA ( left ) The largest art museum on the continent housing the most significant collection of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora in the iconic Grain Silo Complex at the V&A Waterfront. Faku’gesi :African Digital Innovation Festival An electrifying, annual ten-day programme celebrating the power of innovative collaboration at the crossroad of arts, culture and technology. Moshito Music Conference and Exhibitions Africa’s premier event for the music industry businesses and organisations in the global music industry. Design Indaba Festival 2019 Design Indaba Festival 2019 is an immersive experience that includes creative industry heavyweights, music, performance and theatre, product launches and dance.
vi | OCTOBER 2019 | SOUTH AFRICA
www.businessevents.southafrica.net
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