The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has teamed up with the Craft and Design Institute (CDI) to launch the timbuktoo Creatives Lab in South Africa – a dynamic innovation and acceleration programme aimed at unlocking the growth potential of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs). Set to support 15 creative businesses in 2025, the initiative will provide tailored mentorship, access to enabling technologies, and investment-readiness support to drive job creation, business scalability and sustainable development. Applications are now open until 07 May 2025.

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. 

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 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).

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
• 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, adds: “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 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. 

Eligibility for the Creatives Lab accelerator programme:

• Applicants from African countries are eligible for consideration.  
• Registered creative businesses, operating within the sectors of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) listed above.
• Businesses between 2 - 5 years in operation
• Businesses with an annual turnover of R200 000 and above
• Women, youth and marginalised groups are encouraged to apply (including black-owned businesses, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and rural entrepreneurs)

To join the timbuktoo Creatives Lab – apply here by 07 May 2025.

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). 

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.

The masterclasses are free of charge; however limited space is available. 
Find the masterclass booking info at: www.thecdi.org.za/timbuktoo

About the UNDP timbuktoo programme

The United Nations Development Programme works in over 170 countries worldwide to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The UNDP timbuktoo initiative is a pan-African movement aimed at unlocking Africa’s innovation potential by fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth across the continent. It supports businesses in high-growth sectors, by providing funding, expertise, and access to global markets. The Creatives Hub is one of ten hubs across the continent. 

About the Craft and Design Institute (CDI) 

The CDI is a non-profit company with over 24 years of success in developing creative people, small businesses and the craft and design sector at large in South Africa. The CDI is a catalytic agent of change, and passionate about developing appropriately skilled, resourced and digitally proficient practitioners who can successfully leverage opportunities for growth and development. The CDI supports over 7200 member businesses and individual creative entrepreneurs across South Africa, with over R490 million in direct funding offered to date to support creative sector development.