Arts, Culture & Heritage

A career in the Arts, Culture, and Heritage sub-sector offers numerous opportunities and challenges. This broad and diverse field includes businesses in performing arts (such as music, dance, and theatre), visual arts (like photography, painting, and sculpture), heritage (including museums, galleries, and heritage sites), as well as music production, television, radio, and cinema. This sector is ideal for those with a creative spark, offering a wide range of career paths.

If you've ever dreamt of being on TV, making music like Zakes Bantwini, creating visual art like Dr Esther Mahlangu, or exploring cultural heritage, the Arts, Culture, and Heritage sector could be your calling. It's a dynamic and vibrant industry where you can express yourself creatively while earning a living. Beyond performing and fine arts, career options include roles like copywriter, multimedia specialist, and museum curator. With South Africa’s rich cultural diversity and history, a career in this sector can be both fulfilling and rewarding.

South Africa boasts over 300 museums and more than 100 theatre spaces, along with a vibrant entertainment industry. However, it’s important to note that this field is highly competitive, and job security, particularly in entertainment, is not guaranteed, with many relying on contract or sessional work.

CATHSSETA provides funding for bursaries, learnerships, internships and work integrated learning programmes. We also offer career advice.

If you are an employer in the industry, you can contact us on how you can access funding from CATHSSETA for your skills development interventions.

For more information about this sector or for career advice, please contact your nearest regional office.