Deadline for application is 7 December 2025 at 23:59’ SAST
After a successful first edition in 2024, Création Africa South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi is back to support and scale up cultural entrepreneurs in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi. Supported by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of France and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) the second edition of Création Africa, Creation Africa 2, aims to boost and support cultural entrepreneurship in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi.
Création Africa is a programme which takes a holistic approach, that combines mentorship, incubation, training, funding and networking to support cultural entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey, with a focus on entrepreneurs who are ready to take their business to the next level through dedicated mentorship and investment.
The Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) comprise a wide range of sectors that drive both cultural and economic growth, including but not limited to the following:
Visual and Performing Arts: Painting, sculpture, photography, and other visual arts; theatre, dance, circus, and live performances.
Music: Composition, production, performance, and distribution of music.
Film and Television: Production, direction, distribution, and related audiovisual services.
Design and Craft: Graphic design, industrial design, and artisanal crafts.
Fashion: Apparel, accessories, and related industries.
Animation, Gaming, and Interactive Media: Animation, video games, software, and immersive or interactive experiences.
Digital Media: Digital content creation, online platforms, and social media production.
Creative and Cultural Promotion Spaces: Festivals, events, creative hubs, and community spaces that support, present, or promote artists and creative industries.
Publishing: Books, magazines, newspapers, and other print or digital publications.
Architecture: Architectural design, urban planning, and related services.
Cultural Heritage: Museums, archives, preservation, restoration, and heritage management.
Who can apply?
The application is open to all entrepreneurs within the Cultural and Creative Industries from South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi.
Applicants must:
Be over 18 years old.
Be a resident of South Africa, Lesotho or Malawi.
Business must be managed and/or run by the owner (entrepreneur).
Business must be an existing business which is registered within South Africa, Lesotho or Malawi.
Participants are required to be available and committed for the full duration of the mentorship and incubation programmes, including taking any necessary time off from their business obligations.
You must be available for these dates:
Presentation by the short-listed applicants to the Jury: 19 to 23 January 2026
Announcement of selected 50 entrepreneurs: 26 to 29 January 2026
Intensive mentorship program: 2 February to 20 March 2026
Pitch sessions: End March 2026
Incubation program: 6 April to 9 October 2026
Immersion program: Between October and November 2026.
