{"id":13360,"date":"2025-07-22T12:22:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T12:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/13360\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T12:22:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T12:22:10","slug":"how-artists-are-rejuvenating-a-failing-inner-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/13360\/","title":{"rendered":"how artists are rejuvenating a failing inner city"},"content":{"rendered":"

Johannesburg is weathering a storm of crises<\/a>. Nowhere is its complex tangle of challenges more visible than in the inner city, where crime, overcrowding, and infrastructure collapse \u2013 such as roads literally exploding<\/a> \u2013 paint a grim picture. Cultural institutions haven\u2019t been spared either, with long-standing landmarks like the Johannesburg Art Gallery<\/a> caught in cycles of neglect and crisis.<\/p>\n

Read more:
\n South Africa doesn’t need new cities: it needs to focus on fixing what it’s got<\/a><\/p>\n

Yet, while many avoid the inner city or speak only of its decline, the creative and cultural practitioners of Johannesburg never left. In fact, artists, architects, fashion designers, animators, musicians and the like have been hard at work. They\u2019re building, dreaming and shaping a new urban reality that could become the beacon of hope this city needs.<\/p>\n

As a researcher and visual artist, I recently completed a PhD study<\/a> that focused on Johannesburg\u2019s cultural and creative industries. My research revealed that a clear understanding of the existing structures and dynamics within this industry is essential for developing effective strategies to strengthen its role in local economic development. <\/p>\n

Here I explore one such opportunity: creative hubs. I argue that they represent a low-hanging fruit for the inner city\u2019s growth and revitalisation. <\/p>\n

Urban renewal<\/p>\n

Numerous articles have explored strategies for the city\u2019s economic development and urban renewal. One group of scholars recently outlined<\/a> four critical focus areas: coordinated efforts across government levels; an active civil society; a shift in political culture; and restored leadership in a revitalised administration. <\/p>\n

These are vital interventions, but they still beg a deeper question. What is the new \u201cgold\u201d of the \u201cCity of Gold<\/a>\u201d, the mining town founded in 1886 and on track to become a megacity<\/a> by 2030?<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

Work by artist Candice Kramer at Bag Factory Artists Studios.
\n Mark Straw<\/p>\n

What is it that truly sets Johannesburg apart, nationally and globally? What strengths already exist that, if nurtured, could help address the city\u2019s challenges? The answer may not lie in building something entirely new, but in recognising and investing in what already thrives. The city\u2019s people, its culture, and its extraordinary creativity.<\/p>\n

In 2004, Unesco launched the Creative Cities Network<\/a>. Today it comprises 246 cities in 80 member states. South Africa has three cities in the network: Cape Town (design), Durban (literature) and Overstrand (gastronomy). Johannesburg has never applied to belong. <\/p>\n

Cities are acknowledging the economic and social value of the cultural and creative industries, particularly in addressing challenges such as youth unemployment, micro-enterprise growth, equity and community development. <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

Artist Mankebe Seakoe at Contra Fair.
\n Mark Straw<\/p>\n

Yet cities globally are grappling with how to retain creative professionals. This is the case in cities like Toronto, Sydney, Los Angeles, Cologne or Barcelona. Rising property prices, the redevelopment of industrial areas into commercial or luxury spaces, and short-term rental agreements are displacing these professionals from the urban cores they help energise. Cities are coming up with incentives and programmes to correct this. <\/p>\n

A recent World Cities Cultural Forum<\/a> report offers a solution in the form of Creative Land Trusts. These permanently hold land and assets at affordable rates for creatives. They take property out of speculative real estate markets. They\u2019re designed to support not galleries or theatres, but the studios and workspaces where creative production actually happens. <\/p>\n

Similar initiatives are happening in London<\/a>, Helsinki<\/a> and San Francisco<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mapping Johannesburg\u2019s creative hubs<\/p>\n

Unlike cities that are trying to reverse the exodus of creatives, Johannesburg\u2019s inner city has seen a recent surge in creative hub development. <\/p>\n

A creative hub is a physical or digital space (in this case physical) designed to bring together cultural and creative professionals for studio space, collaboration, networking and the exchange of ideas.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a><\/p>\n

Some creative hubs offer gallery spaces.
\n Mark Straw<\/p>\n

Over the last year, 21 creative hubs have been mapped in the city, the majority newly established. Notable examples include Transwerke Studios<\/a>, Asisebenze Art Atelier<\/a>, Victoria Yards<\/a> and Oovookoo<\/a>. Remarkably, 19 of the 21 hubs identified in my open-source mapping<\/a> process are in the inner city. Only two are government run \u2013 Transwerke and Downtown Music Hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Across Johannesburg, creative hubs buzz with independent activity, yet share a common commitment to cultivating talent, business support and community impact. They are evidence of innovative partnerships between creatives and property developers.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

Mapping Johannesburg\u2019s creative hubs.
\n Google Maps\/Mariapaola McGurk<\/p>\n

Inside these spaces, artists and creatives get opportunities through gallerist and investor visits (access to markets). They build practical and entrepreneurial skills through tailored workshops. And they collaborate on projects that place social upliftment at their heart. <\/p>\n

Some hubs focus on offering studio spaces, while others extend their reach beyond their walls, blending artistic expression with community development and public engagement. <\/p>\n

By actively building community and opportunity, creative hubs are becoming<\/a><\/p>\n

lighthouses for the new urban economy.<\/p>\n

They are small business incubators, urban beautification engines and potential cultural tourism hotspots. An event like Contra Fair<\/a> opens the doors of art studio hubs once a year. Entrepreneur and social activist Tebogo Moalusi<\/a> has now taken the lead in the establishment of Creative20. This will become a platform for revitalising Johannesburg\u2019s creative cities campaign. <\/p>\n

Neglected by the city<\/p>\n

And yet the cultural and creative industries remain almost entirely absent from the city\u2019s strategic planning. The Johannesburg 2040: Growth and Development Strategy<\/a> fails even to mention the sector. <\/p>\n

\"People<\/a><\/p>\n

Bag Factory Artists Studios hosting a public event.
\n Mark Straw<\/p>\n

This is despite Gauteng, the province that houses Johannesburg, being the epicentre of South Africa\u2019s creative economy. It contributes<\/a> 46.3% of the industry\u2019s gross domestic product and generates the highest employment impact. Johannesburg hosts the majority of creative businesses in the province.<\/p>\n

Read more:
\n The real Johannesburg: 6 powerful photos from a gritty new book on the city<\/a><\/p>\n

The Gauteng 2030 Strategy<\/a> highlights three high-growth sectors: agro-processing, cultural and creative industries, and high-tech\/knowledge sectors, including digital and gaming. Two of these directly involve the creative economy. Yet there\u2019s been little effort to integrate them into Johannesburg\u2019s urban development agenda. <\/p>\n

If Johannesburg is serious about inclusive economic development and sustainable urban growth, it must recognise and invest in the cultural and creative industries which are already thriving within its borders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Johannesburg is weathering a storm of crises. Nowhere is its complex tangle of challenges more visible than in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13361,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[449,458,459,64,63,460,134],"class_list":["post-13360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-design","tag-entertainment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13360"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13360\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}