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The British Council's Creative and Cultural Economy work shows that creative and cultural sectors globally are well placed to embrace technological innovation and find new ways for emerging creatives to benefit from the digital shift. Through its pilot programme Culture Shift – partnering with the Hub Johannesburg, and UK-based Social Innovation Camp, Merism Capital and Marmanie Impact Investing – selected participants will be challenged to merge their creative and digital expertise to design locally relevant and innovative new products.

Culture Shift is a 6-month ideation and support program for innovators from the creative, commercial and digital sectors. Its overall objective is to develop and realise practical solutions for sustainable impact. Starting off with a 3-day Innovation Weekend on March 23rd to 25th, Culture Shift provides the vital tools to grow these solutions into viable businesses: R50,000 seed funding and mentoring by seasoned entrepreneurs and investors. During the Innovation Weekend, 35 selected participants will go through the following intensive process:

• Friday 23rd March (from 2pm): Ideation Day | local needs analysis, idea generation and team formation
• Saturday 24th: Hack Day | concept development and prototyping solutions
• Sunday 25th: Pitching Day | pitch to investors and awards

Awardees will subsequently benefit from a 6-month ‘Mentoring & Fruition’ support program designed by the Hub Johannesburg, consisting of mentoring, building investor relations and opening opportunities through relevant networks. We already committed Stephen Rockman (founder Merism Capital, UK), James Baster (web developer, UK) to take part on the panel and for further mentoring. An upfront selection of participants will make sure the program generates the anticipated impact. Culture Shift is an international initiative and will concurrently take place in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Lagos.

What’s in it for you?

• Connect with inspiring like-minded people
• Access to an Ideas Lab with impactful innovations
• An opening to access seed funding and business mentoring
• Access to a high-energy, collaborative and fun Innovation Weekend!

Who should participate?

• Technologists, such as web and mobile app-developers
• Social entrepreneurs and institutional changemakers
• Creatives from the arts, design and cultural sectors.

As a participant you share the following characteristics:

• You have a deep passion for your work
• You are excellent at what you do
• You are committed to making a positive impact on society.