Pan-African Creative Exchange (PACE)

The Pan-African Creative Exchange (PACE), an initiative of the Vrystaat Arts Festival, is a portal for African based artists and those from the diaspora to showcase their talents and skills. Through a four day, biennial arts market/provocation, and online gatherings (PACE Entangled), PACE is one of the key platforms on the African continent to showcase the highest quality interdisciplinary arts works from Africa to national and international presenters, producers, buyers, artists and the general public. PACE includes presenting full shows for tour-ready work; showcasing excerpts of tour-ready work; showcasing excerpts of work in progress; pitching new work; producers shadowing and exchange program; workshops; critical debate/round table sessions; networking programs; and other key PACE events.
PACE was developed in response to UN data indicating that the creative industries in Africa contribute less than 1% to the global creative economy. As increased access to, and participation in, culture can be linked to an increase in human development, Africa must shift its focus to support more innovative cultural programs that can creatively transform its society. Culture has also been embedded in several of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals, which further assist cultural visibility from Africa.