A panel discussion to be held in association with the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Festival Enterprise Catalyist

Date: 26 March 2026 – 10:30am

Synopsis:

A solution-focused discussion bringing UNESCO’s findings on the economic and social value of festivals into conversation with practical ecosystem questions — from venue infrastructure and touring circuits to audience development and export pathways — to surface strategies that enable Southern African jazz artists to thrive locally and tour internationally.

Rationale :

The recent UNESCO report highlights that festivals in Southern Africa generated measurable economic impact but remain chronically underfunded — a reality that both stresses local ecosystems and limits artists’ international mobility. This panel will fuse that evidence with on-the-ground thinking about the “missing ingredients” in live-music ecosystems and map concrete actions to grow audiences and export opportunities.

Core questions :

• If live music is an ecosystem, what key gaps in funding, touring, data, and skills are preventing venues, festivals, and touring circuits from growing sustainably?
• How can organisers, venues, presenters, and funders better connect local and international circuits so Southern African jazz artists can move from home stages to global platforms?
• If festivals drive jobs, local economies, and artist export, how can festival organisers and cultural programmers strengthen and sustain festivals even when funding and policy support are limited?
• Which audience-development approaches can grow local audiences while also building international interest in Southern African jazz?