Set to support 15 creative businesses in 2025, the initiative says it will provide tailored mentorship, access to enabling technologies and investment-readiness support to drive job creation, business scalability and sustainable development. 

As part of the global UNDP timbuktoo initiative, the Creatives Lab is an acceleration programme which forms part of the soon-to-be-launched timbuktoo Creatives Hub in District Six, which will provide a physical space for entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate and create, says the UNDP. 

The timbuktoo Creatives Lab acceleration programme is designed to respond to the unique needs of each creative enterprise, offering targeted interventions that strengthen operational capacity and drive innovation. The UNDP says the support is a combination of non-financial (vital business growth skills and knowledge, for example) and financial (bespoke grants according to a designed growth intervention plan).

According to the UNDP, applications are open for businesses in the following areas of the Cultural and Creative Industries:

  • Audio-Visual
  • Design: graphic design, fashion design, industrial design, architecture, interior design
  • Music: music recording, live music, musical instruments and production, festivals
  • Multi-Media, and
  • Organisations aligned to preserving cultural and natural heritage. 

“The timbuktoo Creatives Lab is a bold investment in Africa’s imagination economy — where creativity meets innovation to solve real-world challenges. By nurturing creative entrepreneurs and catalysing new business models, we are not only unlocking economic opportunity but also shaping a new narrative for Africa, driven by the ingenuity of its people," says Maxwell Gomera, Resident Representative, UNDP South Africa and Director, UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub.

Erica Elk, Group CEO of the CDI, says, "The Cultural and Creative Industries have enormous untapped potential. Through the UNDP timbuktoo Creatives Lab, we aim to provide creative entrepreneurs with the tools, networks and knowledge they need to scale and compete on a global stage."

The UNDP says the Creatives Lab will also draw on the resources and expertise of the UNDP timbuktoo partners, including the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, UVU Africa and Snake Nation. 

According to the UNDP, eligibility for the Creatives Lab accelerator programme comprises:

  • priority will be given to those residing in Cape Town, however, other applicants from all regions in South Africa and / or other African countries will be considered
  • registered creative businesses operating within the sectors of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) listed above
  • businesses between two and five years in operation
  • businesses with an annual turnover of R200 000 and above, and
  • women, youth and marginalised groups are encouraged to apply.

Individuals are encouraged to apply here by Wednesday, 7 May.  

Timbuktoo Creatives Lab Masterclasses 

In April, the Craft and Design Institute (CDI) will host five specialised masterclasses at the timbuktoo Creatives Hub. These masterclasses are aimed at convening the creative sector and inspiring creativity, as well as providing an opportunity for anyone interested in joining the Creatives Lab to receive support from CDI on their application (though attendance of a masterclass is not mandatory to apply to the Creatives Lab), says the UNDP. 

The masterclasses cover areas such as AI in the creative economy, immersive storytelling and circular design. A Design-Dash facilitated by the Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika, based at the University of Cape Town, will offer practical tools for creative thinking and problem-solving, equipping creative entrepreneurs with innovative approaches to overcome challenges, adds the UNDP. 

The UNDP concludes that the masterclasses are free of charge, however, limited space is available. Individuals are encouraged to book for the masterclass here. 

For more information, visit www.undp.org. You can also follow the UNDP on Facebook, X or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor