This year’s #cocreateDESIGN FESTIVAL will gather at the vibrant Guga S’thebe Cultural Centre on 24 and 25 February 2020. The event will host two days of inspiring speakers, practical workshops, Oxford-style debates and networking receptions.
This year’s theme, “Towards Digital Inclusion” will focus on the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and its impact on the creative industries. The event is hosted by The Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa in collaboration with the Craft and Design Institute (CDI).
“Each year we select a theme based on the priorities set out by local and national government. In 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed a Presidential Commission on the 4IR to assist in taking advantage of the opportunities presented by 4IR. We hope to build on these developments by creating awareness and showcasing the application of innovation and design-led approaches,” said Sebastiaan Messershmidt, Consul General at the Netherlands Consulate General in Cape Town.
In elaboration on the objectives of the Festival, Executive Director of the CDI, Erica Elk said, “We are focused on issues of inclusion and transformation in the context of 4IR. We have a fantastic lineup of speakers and facilitators with whom we are designing an interactive and inspiring event to engage with this challenging aspect of 4IR. We hope to facilitate conversations between people who don’t always have the opportunity to spend time talking to each other.
We want people to be motivated into action and have practical takeaways, leads and connections to continue co-creating on an ongoing basis.”
The open plenary session will be led by keynote speaker S’onqoba Vuba, Co-founder and Managing Director of Perpetu8, and member of the Presidential Commission on the 4IR. The festival will be MC’d by comedian and local treasure, Tsitsi Chiumya.
Guga S’thebe
Guga S’thebe, Langa
With respect to the chosen venue, “Guga S’thebe is an interestingly designed, multi-purpose space set in the culturally rich township of Langa. It’s in a central location with easy access for audiences from the CBD, townships and suburbs. It’s also in close proximity to projects such as 16 on Lerotholi art gallery, Bridges for Music and Ikhaya Le Langa which helps create a festival precinct experience,” explains Robin Jutzen, Principal Catalytic Sectors Officer, City of Cape Town, and member of the Festival’s curatorial committee.
The Festival is curated by an accomplished and multi-disciplinary group of experts in the field who are tasked with the role of guiding decisions around the format and content of the event. This year’s committee includes: Ellen Fischat, Founder of Story Room and Inspiring Fifty South Africa Ambassador; Glenn Gillis, Co-founder and CEO of Sea Monster Entertainment; Chantal Lailvaux, Co-founder of AIHO, Mmaki Jantjies, Co-founder of Peo Ya Phetogo & Associate Professor at UWC; Nicholas Hall, CEO Interactive Entertainment South Africa and Founder of Nick Hall Consulting; Vuyisa Qabaka, Partner at HYBR Group and Robin Jutzen, Principal Catalytic Sectors Officer, City of Cape Town.
WHERE: Guga S’thebe, Washington St, Langa, Cape Town, 7455
WHEN: 24 – 25 Feb 2020
TICKETS: R100 per day or R150 for both days.
Book your ticket HERE today!
Once you have booked, you will be alerted to proceed to make your session choices for the days you will attend. Please make sure you respond timeously, as spaces will only be allocated to those who have signed up for the respective workshops and plenaries.
Free shuttles will be available to ticket holders for transport between the Cape Town CBD and Guga S’thebe.
See also Cape Town Green Map
