ActionSA unveils plan to revive Joburg’s creative sector
ActionSA will bring together more than 150 practitioners in Newtown as it unveils its vision to revitalise Johannesburg’s creative sector.
ActionSA mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba and MMC candidate Tshepo Mashiane headline the party's Sports, Arts and Culture stakeholder engagement in Newtown on 4 September 2026.
ActionSA is set to bring together more than 150 practitioners and stakeholders from Johannesburg's sports, arts, culture and recreation sectors as it unveils what it describes as a bold plan to revitalise industries facing growing challenges.
The gathering, scheduled for Friday, 4 September 2026, at the Workers Museum in Newtown, will feature a State of Sports, Arts and Culture Address focused on the future of Johannesburg's creative and sporting communities.
Johannesburg has long been regarded as one of South Africa's most important centres for sport, arts and culture, producing internationally recognised athletes, musicians, actors, filmmakers and other creative talent. Its cultural precincts, sporting facilities and creative industries have also played an important role in attracting visitors, creating jobs and contributing to the city's economy.
However, practitioners across these sectors have increasingly raised concerns about deteriorating infrastructure, limited opportunities and inadequate institutional support.
Against this backdrop, ActionSA's planned engagement positions sport, arts and culture not simply as recreational or entertainment activities, but as sectors with significant potential to create employment, develop young talent and contribute to Johannesburg's economic revival.
By bringing more than 150 practitioners and stakeholders together under one roof, the party says it wants to create a direct platform for those working in the sectors to engage on the challenges they face and contribute to discussions about Johannesburg's future.
According to ActionSA, the event will highlight some of the pressing challenges facing the sectors, including poorly maintained facilities, inadequate support and limited opportunities for practitioners, while also setting out a plan aimed at breathing new life into Johannesburg's sports, arts and creative industries.
ActionSA City of Joburg mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba is expected to deliver the keynote address, outlining the party's vision for the sectors ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The CoJ State of Sports, Arts and Culture Address will be delivered by Tshepo Mashiane, ActionSA's CoJ MMC Candidate for Sports, Arts and Culture.
Beyond the formal addresses, the gathering is expected to provide an opportunity for practitioners and stakeholders to engage directly with ActionSA and raise issues affecting their industries.
With representatives from across the sports, arts, culture and recreation sectors expected to attend, the event could provide an important platform for artists, athletes, cultural practitioners and other stakeholders to exchange ideas about unlocking Johannesburg's creative and sporting potential.
The event takes place from 11:00 to 14:00 at the Workers Museum in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Event details:
- Date: Friday, 4 September 2026
- Time: 11:00–14:00
- Venue: Workers Museum, Newtown, Johannesburg