The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) is introducing the 17 Cultural and Creative Industry Clusters — a national framework designed to formalise, strengthen, and grow South Africa’s creative economy.
These clusters will serve as strategic platforms for coordination, professionalisation, and advocacy across diverse cultural and creative sectors, ensuring that artists, creators, and industry stakeholders have a unified voice and structured pathways for development, funding, and market access.
The establishment of the clusters is part of DSAC’s broader mandate to:
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, speaking on the establishment of the 17 clusters said: “The creative economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and South Africa is rich in talent, heritage, and innovation. These 17 clusters will not only strengthen our cultural identity but also create jobs, attract investment, and position South Africa as a leading hub for creative excellence.”
The newly established clusters cover the full spectrum of South Africa’s cultural and creative ecosystem:
The clusters have been established to:
Each cluster will operate as a recognised platform within the national creative economy framework, with leadership structures, membership representation, and formal channels for engagement with DSAC and other stakeholders.
Through the clusters, creative professionals will gain:
The Department calls upon all creative practitioners, cultural organisations, and industry stakeholders to engage with and participate in their relevant clusters, contributing to a united and thriving cultural and creative sector.
“The strength of these clusters lies in the collective voice and vision of the creative community,” the Minister added.
“Together, we can ensure that our arts, heritage, and cultural industries not only survive but thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
The respective sectors will provide further communication and guidance on opportunities for public participation as creatives in due course.
Enquiries:
Ms Stacey-Lee Khojane
Spokesperson: Office of the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
Email: StaceyK@dsac.gov.za
Cell: +27 77 608 7579
Ms Zimasa Velaphi
Head of Communication and Marketing: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
Email: ZimasaV@dsac.gov.za
Cell: +27 72 172 8925
#GovZAUpdates
CaribbeanTales Media Group has entered a new partnership between the Cross Continental Forum (CCF) and the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO), as CCF expands into a year-long international lab connecting Black and Global Majority producers across Africa, the Caribbean, Canada, the UK, Europe, and the wider diaspora.
June 16, 1976, will forever be remembered for the courageous actions taken by the youth to confront the injustice of Apartheid. The students of Soweto took to the streets to protest the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, and their bravery ignited a fire that would eventually help dismantle an oppressive regime.
What if your next paycheque came from a 60-second video, a podcast recorded in your bedroom, or a cooking tutorial filmed on your phone? For a growing number of South Africans, this is no longer just a possibility, it is a career.
South Africa hosts a wide array of sporting events, ranging from local community competitions to internationally televised tournaments, with the sector generating significant economic activity. With a growing emphasis on accountability and value for money, government bodies, event organisers, and sponsors increasingly seek to understand how these events contribute to regional economies.
