Running a creative organisation takes far more than artistic vision. Behind every successful arts organisation are decisions about governance, funding, partnerships, compliance and long-term sustainability, areas that are rarely discussed as openly as the creative work itself.
A new YouTube vodcast launching on 13 July 2026 hopes to change that.
The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT), in partnership with Tanaka Pictures, is launching NPO Bootcamp: Arts & Culture Edition, a new interview series that brings together leaders from South Africa’s arts and culture non-profit sector to share the practical realities of building and sustaining organisations within the creative economy.
Hosted by Nobantu Mqulwana, Managing Director of Tanaka Pictures, the series forms part of the ACT Centre of Excellence initiative and focuses on the operational lessons, leadership challenges and lived experiences that often sit behind successful creative organisations.
Creating access to practical sector knowledge
Across South Africa, arts and culture organisations play an essential role in nurturing talent, creating opportunities and expanding participation in the creative economy. Yet many emerging organisations learn how to navigate funding, governance and organisational management through trial and error.
NPO Bootcamp: Arts & Culture Edition responds to that gap by creating a platform where experienced practitioners share what they’ve learned throughout their careers.
Rather than offering motivational conversations alone, the series explores practical topics including organisational leadership, programme design, compliance, fundraising, partnerships and building long-term resilience.
According to ACT Chief Executive Officer Jessica Denyschen, the series aims to make knowledge that often exists behind closed doors more widely accessible across the sector.
“What makes this series important is that it captures the knowledge that often lives between people, inside organisations, and behind years of experience,” she says.
Learning from established creative leaders
The first season features four respected voices from South Africa’s creative landscape.
The opening interviews include Jack Devnarain, actor and Chairperson of the South African Guild of Actors; Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt, Founder and CEO of Chocolate Tribe; Erica Elk, Group CEO of the Craft and Design Institute; and Nathi Simelane, Chief Operating Officer of Artist Proof Studio.
Collectively, they bring experience spanning performance, animation, design, arts education and creative enterprise, offering perspectives on the realities of leading organisations in South Africa’s cultural sector.
Speaking about the project, Mqulwana says the goal is to make often overlooked knowledge visible and accessible.
“It is about understanding the realities behind the work, and creating access to the kind of information that is often difficult to find.”
Strengthening South Africa’s creative ecosystem
While the series centres on arts and culture non-profit organisations, many of its conversations are likely to resonate with creative entrepreneurs, founders, producers and practitioners looking to build sustainable careers beyond individual projects.
As South Africa’s creative economy continues to grow, conversations around organisational resilience, collaboration and leadership have become increasingly important. By documenting the experiences of established sector leaders, NPO Bootcamp: Arts & Culture Edition offers emerging organisations an opportunity to learn from those who have already navigated many of the industry’s biggest challenges.
The series premieres on YouTube on 13 July 2026, with additional episodes expected to expand the conversation by featuring more voices from across South Africa’s arts and culture landscape.
