The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) invites creatives to Africa’s first creative-tech hub. A dedicated new space has opened for Cape Town’s creatives in District Six.
It offers free access to workspaces, mentorship and networking opportunities. The Cape Town hub forms part of the broader timbuktoo platform, a continent-wide innovation drive by the UNDP.
It aims to scale Africa’s startup economy through regional hubs focused on youth entrepreneurship and tech-enabled industries.
The timbuktoo Creative Hub, Africa’s first creative-tech hub, is based at the Homecoming Centre (formerly the Athol Fugard Theatre) and is inviting local and pan-African creatives to use its facilities at no cost (ventureburn.com).
The hub is designed to support designers, animators, musicians, storytellers and other creatives by removing financial barriers that often limit growth in the sector.
Funded through a partnership between:
- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT)
- UVU Africa
- The Craft and Design Institute
- Youth media platform Snake Nation.
The initiative is positioned to unlock South Africa’s creative economy through targeted support and collaboration.
‘Creative industries are a major driver of economic growth, yet African creatives often lack access to the resources, networks and funding needed to scale their businesses. We’re inviting Cape Town’s creative community to come and experience the facilities and support we’ve developed specifically for them.’ Lara Rosmarin, Head of Entrepreneur Development at UVU Accelerate, says the hub aims to close the gap between talent and access.
The hub offers a variety of services, including:
- Free workspaces and uncapped WiFi
- Sector-specific mentorship in areas such as fashion tech, AR/VR, animation and music
- Access to creative events
- Hands-on guidance from an entrepreneur-in-residence
- Digital skills development
According to organisers, more than 280 applications have already been received for the Creative Accelerator programme, showing the strong demand for this kind of offering.
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Picture: Homecoming Center / homecomingcenter.co.za
