Deadline Date: December 07, 2025
Création Africa is a groundbreaking initiative by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, coordinated by the Embassy of France and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), aimed at boosting and supporting cultural entrepreneurship in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi.
The focus of Création Africa South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi is to build a vibrant, sustainable Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) ecosystem, stimulate and support cultural entrepreneurship end-to-end, strengthen the CCI in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, drive scalable impact and job creation, prioritise innovation and problem-solving, improve market access and business development, expand international cooperation and mobility, foster networking and community, and showcase CCI talent and narratives to grow demand.
The Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) encompass a wide range of sectors that drive both cultural and economic growth, including visual and performing arts such as painting, sculpture, photography, theatre, dance, and live performances; music composition, production, and distribution; film and television production; design and craft such as graphic and industrial design; fashion, animation, gaming, and interactive media; digital media and online platforms; creative and cultural promotion spaces like festivals and creative hubs; publishing; architecture; and cultural heritage management including museums and restoration.
The 15 projects selected will receive financial support from the French Institute of South Africa as leverage to scale up their businesses. The amount of support, ranging from €15,000 to €30,000, will be determined by the incubator and the jury based on the specific needs and potential outlined by the entrepreneurs to scale up.
The programme is open to all entrepreneurs within the Cultural and Creative Industries from South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi. Applicants must be over 18 years old and residents of one of the participating countries. The business must be managed and run by the owner, be an existing registered business, and have a demonstrable history or credible market research supporting its viability. Businesses should demonstrate innovation, scalability in impact and job creation, and a unique proposition addressing pressing needs or opportunities.
Participants must be available and committed to the full duration of the mentorship and incubation programmes, including taking time off from regular business obligations if necessary. They must credit the Embassy of France for South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, the French Institute of South Africa, and Création Africa in all marketing and publicity. Applicants must consent to the use of photos and videos taken during the programme for communication purposes, engage actively in all programme stages, and participate in events such as Pitch Day and investor sessions.
For more information, visit Création Africa.
