​​​​​​​The pillars of transforming South Africa’s cultural and creative industries

Yet, the governance and policy frameworks guiding this sector remain underdeveloped or inadequately enforced.

To unlock the sector’s full potential, it is imperative to place arts administrators with strong governance and policy understanding in key leadership positions.

This shift could provide the strategic oversight required to address systemic challenges, create inclusive platforms, and ensure long-term sustainability.

The role of arts administrators

Arts administrators are the unsung heroes of the CCI ecosystem. They are responsible for structuring and implementing strategies, ensuring compliance with legislation, securing funding, and managing partnerships. While practitioners bring creativity and passion, administrators provide the strategic framework that allows that creativity to thrive within structured systems.

In South Africa, the absence of strong arts administrators in leadership positions often leads to:

• Policy misalignment: Decision-makers without policy expertise may struggle to align their initiatives with national development goals, such as those outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP).
• Resource mismanagement: A lack of administrative skills can result in inefficient use of funds, depriving communities of the resources they need to flourish.
• Ineffective advocacy: Without a clear understanding of legislation and governance, leaders may fail to advocate effectively for the sector’s needs at government or global levels.

The importance of governance

Governance provides the structure within which arts and culture institutions operate. It encompasses transparency, accountability, and strategic vision—all of which are essential for building credibility and trust. Effective governance in the CCI sector can address long-standing issues such as:

• Unequal access: Governance mechanisms can ensure equitable distribution of resources across urban and rural areas.
• Ethical management: Strong governance can curb corruption and ensure that funds and opportunities benefit the intended recipients.
• Sustainability: Policies rooted in governance frameworks can safeguard the sector from political interference and economic downturns.

Why policy matters

Policies are the instruments through which a nation steers its cultural and creative industries. South Africa needs robust policies that reflect local realities while aligning with global trends. These policies must address:

• Cultural preservation: Frameworks to protect indigenous knowledge and heritage.
• Economic growth: Incentives to attract investment, support entrepreneurship, and create jobs.
• Global competitiveness: Strategies to position South African creatives on the global stage.

Recommendations for the future

• Capacity building for arts administrators: Invest in training programs to equip administrators with skills in governance, finance, and policy implementation.
• Inclusive leadership: Appoint leaders with both artistic and administrative expertise to bridge the gap between creativity and strategy.
• Sector-specific policies: Develop tailored policies for sub-sectors like live performance, visual arts, and crafts to address their unique challenges.
• Public-private partnerships: Encourage collaborations between government, private sector, and civil society to pool resources and expertise.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Establish mechanisms to assess the impact of policies and adapt them based on sector needs.

A call to action

South Africa is at a crossroads. The cultural and creative industries can either remain a sector plagued by inefficiencies or become a dynamic force for national development. This transformation requires a paradigm shift in leadership. Strong arts administrators must be empowered to lead, armed with the governance and policy tools to shape a resilient and inclusive industry.

The time to act is now. By prioritising governance and policy, we can build a CCI sector that not only reflects the soul of our nation but also drives its progress.

Thami AkaMbongo Manzana is a South Africa actor and arts activist. This article first appeared on Artslink.