My brilliant marketing team asked me to share a 100-day reflection on my time as CEO of BASA. I know this is “standard,” and everyone expects it – the reflective post, followed by my face attached to countless beautifully designed snippets celebrating the past few months. But that’s never quite been my style And in…
By Beth Arendse, CEO, Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) South Africa’s hosting of the 2025 G20 Summit was historic for many reasons – but one of the most important is what it means for Africa’s creative and cultural industries. For the first time, the G20’s political, cultural and business tracks aligned around a shared…
Image : (Far Left) Marie Lora Mungayi , (Left) Malibongwe Nzuza , (Middle) Beth Arendse , (Right) Wakiuru Njuguna , (Far Right): Gladwyn Leeuw Johannesburg, South Africa The Creative Futures Africa Summit, held under the theme “From Unseen to Unstoppable,” brought together creative leaders, innovators, policymakers, and investors from across Africa and the Global South to imagine…
The Debut Programme, an initiative by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), continues to nurture the next generation of creative entrepreneurs through its Catalyst Phase, a stage designed to equip emerging artists with mentorship, business acumen, and the tools to scale their creative ventures. In this phase, the Debut Programme introduces a remarkable group of…
The creative economy is thriving with new voices, bold ideas, and entrepreneurial spirit and at the heart of this transformation stands the Debut Programme, a programme by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) in partnership with Business and Arts South Africa (BASA). Since its inception in 2017, the Debut Programme has empowered hundreds of young creatives from rural…
Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) announces the appointment of new members to its Board of Directors, following its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 3 October 2025. Joining the existing seven directors, the expanded ten-member Board will guide BASA’s growth, governance, and strategic direction. With the BASA 2.0 strategy now underway, this newly appointed Board brings together…
Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 3 October 2025, bringing together members, partners, and key stakeholders. The meeting reflected on the organisation’s achievements over the past year and set the stage for a future defined by creativity, collaboration, and transformation. The AGM reaffirmed BASA’s mission to connect business…
The Supporting Grants 2.0 webinar recording is now live and ready to watch online. In this session, BASA CEO Beth Arendse and the Supporting Grants team unpack the repositioned programme and share step-by-step guidance on the application process and criteria. This makes it an essential resource for anyone preparing to apply. Watch the recording here…
Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) is excited to announce a fresh repositioning of its flagship Supporting Grants Programme, signalling a new way of supporting the creative sector and strengthening partnerships between the business and arts. This update aims to spark innovation, increase impact, and build sustainable, high-value collaborations. For more than 25 years, the…
BASA × Audrey Lisik | Women’s Day Collaboration In celebration of Women’s Day, Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) has partnered with artist Audrey Lisik to release a limited digital wallpaper series that honours the strength, creativity, and beauty of women. Message from the Artist In this gentle yet symbolic piece, a woman places ladybugs onto the blooming and towering flower.…
Happy Women’s Day! This Women’s Day, Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) is celebrating the power of creative women with the #SheCreates Starter Pack — a free digital toolkit designed to help young creatives transform their passion into thriving, sustainable businesses. Developed through BASA’s Debut Programme, the How to Start a Creative Business Toolkit is your go-to guide for building a creative…
Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) has relocated to a new creative space! From 7 August 2025, you’ll find us at our new home at: Design District 9A Keys Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg To ensure a smooth transition, the BASA team will be working remotely until we open the new office on 7 August 2025. During this time,…
Business and Arts South Africa NPC (BASA) invites nominations to fill three vacancies on its Board of Directors. This is an exciting opportunity to help steer BASA’s evolution as it strengthens partnerships, drives innovation, and expands impact across South Africa’s creative economy Established in 1997 as a pioneering collaboration between government and the private sector,…
Job Title: BASA Partnerships & Stakeholder Manager Reports to: CEO Supervises: Membership Coordinator/Membership Officer Location: Johannesburg Type: Fixed-term contract (12 months, renewable) About BASA Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) is a leading connector-catalyst at the intersection of business and the arts. We work to strengthen partnerships, unlock investment, and advance the sustainability and impact…
A new wave of creative entrepreneurs is building businesses across South Africa through the Debut Fund Programme, funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and implemented by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA). As part of the programme’s Hlanganisa Phase, BASA introduced the Pitch Den presentations, an energetic platform where 203 emerging…
By Unathi Malunga, Board Member at Business and Arts South Africa South African corporates are still reaching for the same inherited templates: the gala dinner, the heritage month sponsorship, the once-off art competition. The end-of-year artist showcase or awards dinner – with no mentorship, funding, or follow-through for the creatives being celebrated. Donating airtime” or…
Johannesburg, 23 June 2025 — Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) announces the appointment of Beth Arendse as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2025. With over 25 years of leadership experience in South Africa’s creative and cultural sectors, Beth brings visionary insight, strategic expertise, and an unwavering commitment to inclusive growth. Throughout…
By Zanele Madiba, BASA Programmes Manager For far too long, the arts in South Africa have been viewed as mere passion projects, admired for their cultural value but rarely seen as a viable means of earning a living. Creativity has been confined to a hobby supported by grants and patronage. However, today, a revolution is unfolding…
Sinenhlanhla Mdiya, Marketing and Communications Manager at BASA, discusses the company’s new corporate identity, delving into details about the design changes and how the brand has evolved, as well as what the rebrand signifies for BASA’s future. 1. Can you tell us a bit about your role at BASA, as well as your role in…
Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) is partnering with RMB Latitudes Art Fair to present the RMB Latitudes Talks, set to run from 23 to 25 May at the scenic Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg. This collaboration reflects BASA’s ongoing commitment to driving meaningful dialogue and partnerships within the arts, both at home and across borders.…
In a powerful celebration of creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurship, the Debut Programme, funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), has reached a significant milestone in its national rollout. At the heart of this achievement was the successful delivery of the pitch Den, which recently brought together more than 200 emerging creative entrepreneurs…
By Sascha Polkey, Research at Business and Arts South Africa There is no fire without a spark. In the ever-evolving landscape of the arts, emerging artists often face daunting challenges when it comes to getting that one lucky break and then securing ongoing funding, visibility, and access to opportunities. South Africa is awash with creativity…
As we reflect on the impactful projects supported by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) in 2024, we celebrate the recipients whose initiatives have sparked creative transformation across the South African arts landscape. From empowering emerging artists, to providing platforms for musical expression, these projects exemplify the profound impact that collaboration and funding can have…
Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) is pleased to announce the opening of applications for Cycle 4 of the BASA Supporting Grants Programme. Eligible candidates have until 24 January 2025 to submit their funding proposals for projects that promote artistic excellence, foster social cohesion, and stimulate economic growth. The BASA Supporting Grants Programme provides financial…
