Abstract
Purpose of the study: Research on the creative economy is largely dominated by Western perspectives, which often fail to reflect the ideological, cultural, and socio-economic realities of the Global South. Although South Africa has made progress in researching the cultural and creative industries (CCIs), there remains limited geographically focused data on the organisations and institutions that enable their growth. Johannesburg represents the epicentre of South Africa’s creative economy, yet no comprehensive mapping of its enabling ecosystem currently exists. The purpose of this study is therefore to identify and analyse the key organisations and institutions that support and enable the development of Johannesburg’s cultural and creative industries.Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a systems thinking perspective to examine the interconnected nature of the creative economy. An open-source mapping methodology was utilised, with Google My Maps as the collaborative platform. The map was structured around eight categories of enabling organisations, including educational institutions, capacity-building organisations, creative hubs, makerspaces, market-access venues, government and funding bodies, festivals and events, and advocacy organisations. The map was publicly shared on social media platforms and industry networks, allowing creative professionals to contribute additional locations and information in an open, participatory manner.Findings: The mapping study identified 182 organisations and institutions that enable Johannesburg’s creative economy. These actors operate across a distributed network of educational providers, creative hubs, makerspaces, market access points, festivals, advocacy bodies, and funding institutions. The results demonstrate that while a diverse ecosystem of enabling structures exists, there are notable gaps in areas such as access to advanced makerspaces, advocacy organisations, and coordinated support structures.Recommendations/value: The study provides one of the first comprehensive ecosystem-level mappings of Johannesburg’s cultural and creative industries. It highlights the importance of collaborative networks, accessible infrastructure, and open data approaches for understanding and strengthening the sector. The open-source mapping model offers a scalable methodology that can be replicated in other cities across Africa to build context-specific knowledge of the creative economy.Managerial implications: For policymakers, city managers, and institutional leaders, the findings demonstrate the importance of adopting a systems-based approach when developing strategies for the creative economy. Strengthening connections between educational institutions, creative hubs, infrastructure providers, and market access platforms can enhance collaboration and sector growth. The mapping tool also provides a practical resource for creative practitioners and organisations seeking to navigate the ecosystem and identify opportunities for partnership and development.