Johannesburg, 6 October 2026 – The ideas shaping Africa’s creative economy are moving into the wider creative community this week as Creative Futures Africa: Beyond the Summit brings key conversations and provocations from the 2026 Creative Futures Africa Summit into a public forum. Taking place on Thursday, 8 October at A42 House in Parktown North, Johannesburg at 17h30. Entry is free but booking via https://luma.com/9ok9kj4k is essential.
The event, part of Design Week South Africa, is an open-floor session that will give Johannesburg’s creative community an opportunity to engage with the questions emerging from the second Creative Futures Africa Summit, held in Johannesburg in September.
The 2026 Summit brought together voices from across the creative economy, finance, technology, policy, climate and city-making to explore how creativity can drive Africa’s next chapter. Building on the 11 priorities that emerged from the inaugural 2025 Summit, the programme moved beyond identifying what needs to change to exploring the systems, connections and actions that could help move Africa’s creative economy from unseen to unstoppable.
Creative Futures Africa: Beyond the Summit t lifts some of the key ideas emerging from discussions at the two-day programme and shares them into the broader community as the Summit moves into a generative cycle of consultation and action until it occurs again in 2027. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the key partners of the CFA, with a chance to ask questions and consider what the findings could mean in practice.
Presented by Jozi My Jozi and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), in partnership with Andani.Africa, Creative Capital, GGDA, Standard Bank, British Council, IDC, AltBLK, IQOQO and BBA Liminal, the session is designed as an open floor rather than a traditional panel.
“We’re bringing the CFA Summit’s key insights, findings and thought provocations straight to the people doing the actual work on the ground. Come and test the ideas, push back, discuss, debate and deliberate. We want you to challenge our decisions and bring your own perspective to shaping what comes next for the creative sector in our city,” says Dawn Robertson, Creative Economy and Urban Innovation Leader at Jozi My Jozi.
The discussion will explore what it takes to build new models for the creative economy, how investment can reach creative businesses, the role of technology, how African cities can create space for creativity and economic opportunity, and questions around data ownership and value as more creative activity moves into digital spaces.
The conversation will bring together Beth Arendse, CEO of Business and Arts South Africa (BASA); Dawn Robertson, Creative Economy and Urban Innovation Leader at Jozi My Jozi and Tourism & Creative Economy Catalyst. Ninel Lara Musson, Managing Director of CLOUT SA and Founder of Creative Capital; Lonwabo Mavuso, Creative Economy Strategist and Ecosystem Builder and Co-Founding Executive Director of Andani.Africa;
CREATIVE FUTURES AFRICA: BEYOND THE SUMMIT
Date: Thursday, 8 October 2026
Time: 17:30–19:30
Venue: A42 House, 6A 8th Avenue, Parktown North, Johannesburg
Entrance: Free and open to all ages
Bookings: Register via Luma
Presented by: Jozi My Jozi and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)
In partnership with: Andani.Africa, Creative Capital, GGDA, Standard Bank, British Council, IDC, AltBLK, IQOQO and BBA Liminal
ABOUT CREATIVE FUTURES AFRICA
Creative Futures Africa is a continental platform bringing together the people shaping the future of Africa’s creative economy, from policymakers and investors to business leaders, technology innovators, entrepreneurs and creatives.
The platform moves the conversation beyond celebrating Africa’s creative potential towards examining what is needed to grow the creative economy, including investment, stronger markets, infrastructure, intellectual property protection, technological innovation, policy reform and meaningful cross-sector partnerships.
At its heart, Creative Futures Africa is about connection: connecting ideas with investment, creativity with opportunity, and policy with action.
Building on its inaugural Summit in 2025, Creative Futures Africa is evolving into a year-round platform for thought leadership, policy dialogue, investment mobilisation and ecosystem development.
Creative Futures Africa is presented by Jozi My Jozi and Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)
