We <3 the creative economy

A year or two ago, our dear friend Carolynne Waterhouse – who has the intriguing title of “creative counsel” at our partner Rand Merchant Bank – introduced us to the concept of the creative economy.

“A creative economy,” says Wikipedia, “is based on people’s use of their creative imagination to increase an idea’s value. John Howkins developed the concept in 2001 to describe economic systems where value is based on novel imaginative qualities rather than the traditional resources of land, labour and capital.

“Compared to creative industries, which are limited to specific sectors, the term is used to describe creativity throughout a whole economy.”

So now you know. 🙂

CN&CO is a firm supporter of, and contributor to, the creative economy. Here are a few components of said economy that have crossed our desks in the past few weeks:

RMB lights the way

RMB’s home HQ in Sandton, is ablaze with the colours of national unity in a gesture of solidarity and solutionist thinking. For a few nights a week, between 7 and 8pm, the building lights up on two sides in the colours of the South African flag, carrying the message: “Solutions need us all.”

Read: RMB shines a light on solutions for a courageous nation

***

Marquee TV streams the performing arts

A new on-demand streaming service has launched in South Africa that caters to lovers of the performing arts. Marquee TV brings the Royal Opera House, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Glyndebourne, among others, directly into your living room – or onto your computer, tablet or phone – anytime it suits you.

Read: CN&CO named SA PR partner for Marquee TV

***

1000 South Africans perform together for the #AnthemChallengeRSA

At the end of March – and the start of #LockdownSA – a group of over 50 of South Africa’s most talented performing artists came together – virtually – to perform our national anthem as part of the #AnthemChallengeRSA initiative.

The nation was subsequently challenged to submit videos of themselves performing our anthem; the result is a 1 000+ piece virtual choir of South Africans from every walk of life performing together in a show of true unity.

CN&CO was proud to be part of the PR team that promoted the project, which captured South Africans’ attention through a variety of media.

Read: #AnthemChallengeRSA: 1000 South Africans celebrate unity in diversity

***

Francois keeps his creative spirits up during lockdown

We love a recent “I wish someone had told me” blog by CN&CO Events’ Francois Joubert in which he shares the creative ways he and the Events team have dealt with lockdown.

Read: I wish someone told me… a couple of things

***

#lockdownshakespeare

Our friends at the Shakespeare Society of Southern Africa (SSoSA) have come up with a scheme to help out-of-work actors potentially make a bit of cash by recording themselves filming a Shakespeare monologue and sharing it on social media.

So far 60 videos have been submitted, 45 of which have made it onto the #lockdownshakespeare YouTube channel. According to SSoSA president, Chris Thurman, the funds raised have helped 35 theatre makers so far – “and it’s ongoing…”

Read: #lockdownshakespeare: How our thespian friends are tackling Covid-19