Call for applications: Cultural Producers Programme in SA

The programme seeks to create the next generation of skilled leaders who will be trained to take the sector forward by accelerating growth in skills development, capacitating global networks and driving innovative new work in ever-changing markets. It is aimed at experienced or mid-level cultural producers aged from 18 to 35 years. The programme’s objective is to strengthen the creative economy ecosystem between South Africa and the UK. 

The project will bring together a group of 25 mid-career creative and cultural producers already working in South Africa, united as a single network to enable innovative work practice.

Interested applicants can apply here before 21 January.

The programme will take the form of an intensive leadership accelerator training programme, which will also place the candidates into South African creative or arts organisations that have identified the need for capacity-building leadership skills. Additionally, the cohort will receive training in business skills through the British Council Creative Economy E-learning programme, as well as micro-grants for the creation of new cultural/creative products. In 2022, with the SoCreative Hubs Summit digital meet-ups, the participants will connect with other young hub managers and creators from sub-Saharan Africa and the UK to network and exchange ideas and opportunities for co-curation.

“There is increasing recognition in South Africa of the creative industries as a vital source of income for young people,” British Council head of arts South Africa and cultural exchange Sub-Saharan Africa Farai Ncube Tarwireyi said. “Through the Cultural Producers Programme, mid-level experienced cultural producers can advance their skills, gain confidence, build global relationships and networks, and share their knowledge about cultural intelligence in multi-sectoral/disciplinary cultural and creative environments.”

BASA CEO Ashraf Johaardien said: “With news of the country’s unemployment rate climbing to 34.9%, the cultural and creative sector has the potential to provide low-barrier access to entrepreneurial opportunities and career development, particularly among the youth. Leadership skills are essential in any sector. However, in the creative sector, these attributes are not commonly mentored or formally taught, especially in the arena of cultural production and management. For this reason, organisations and projects with great promise often plateau or fizzle out before fulfilling their true potential. That’s because the kind of training needed for sustained arts development is actually very different to the skill sets required for unleashing creativity – and that is precisely the gap which the Cultural Producers Programme aims to address.”

View the original call here.