Latest news with #DavidMartinon
The Citizen
06-08-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
France-South Africa alliance supports female entrepreneurs
THE Ambassador of France to South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, David Martinon, and his team recently attended the launch of the 'Women's Entrepreneurship Incubator' project which was implemented by Alliance Francaise de Durban and Innovate Durban. Alliance Française de Durban said it is thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking project, co-creating a future where women lead innovation and communities thrive. Alliance Française de Durban shared, 'Through this programme, France will support 30 women entrepreneurs from the very beginning to the implementation of their projects, with a strong focus on cultural and creative industries. Also read: Alliance Française de Durban on the move 'From October 2025 to May 2026, participants will benefit from expert training, coaching, and mentorship; a child-friendly learning space for mothers; and access to a vibrant ecosystem of innovators and creatives. By placing women at the centre, this project embodies France's feminist diplomacy and contributes to an inclusive and mutually beneficial partnership between France and South Africa.' This initiative is part of the dynamics of Alliance Française de Durban, which, following the sale of its historic building, aims to collaboratively and collectively write a new chapter of its history. For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here
Zawya
11-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
French and South African creative industries in the spotlight at ICC Forum 2025
French and South African leaders from the creative economy recently gathered in Pretoria for the ICC Forum 2025, a flagship event of the ICC Immersion South Africa programme, hosted at the French Residence in Pretoria. Part of the France 2030 initiative and implemented locally by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) and Business France South Africa and Southern Africa, the ICC Forum provided a high-level platform for collaboration, innovation, and exchange between cultural and creative industry (CCI) professionals across both countries. Welcoming the delegation, His Excellency Mr David Martinon, French Ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi, emphasised France's ongoing commitment to cultural diplomacy and the shared potential of the creative industries to drive innovation, sustainability, and social impact. 'ICC Immersion in South Africa is more than a showcase of French creativity — it's a catalyst for long-term collaboration between French companies and South African partners. This forum marks the beginning of concrete joint ventures in fields such as digital arts, sustainable fashion, immersive heritage, and music innovation. These creative industries are drivers of economic opportunity, social transformation, and deeper mutual understanding.', said Ambassador Martinon. The Forum provided an opportunity for the ICC Immersion South Africa 2025 delegates to showcase their respective companies and offerings: ALLEGRIA – Creators of 'Château Merveilles', an immersive VVIP dining experience combining two cultures while showcasing the French Art de Vivre. Get ready for an unforgettable dinner in the famous Louvre museum or Palace of Versailles Atrack (Beam for Music) – helps artists and music publishers optimise royalty tracking and revenue recovery through advanced technology and data visualisation tools. Agence Culturelle PLUS (Reunion Island) – a cultural think tank facilitating dialogue between arts, heritage, and people, while revitalising traditional mediation tools through site-specific projects and festivals. Culturespaces – manages 14 renowned cultural and heritage sites including the Atelier des Lumières in Paris, offering immersive exhibitions and audiovisual experiences across France and abroad. Fabrik & Moi (Reunion Island) – a high-end fashion brand focused on ethical and sustainable textile innovation, with a CSR-led project that transforms used fabrics into luxury pieces—featured most recently at Paris Fashion Week. France Muséums Développement – provides strategic consulting for major museum projects globally, leveraging the expertise of leading French museums to foster cultural impact and audience engagement. Jakob + MacFarlane – a cutting-edge architecture and urban design firm known for socially committed, environmentally innovative projects across sectors—from museums and theatres to housing and research labs. Memorist – brings together five French heritage firms to offer services in conservation, restoration, digitisation, and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural assets worldwide. SoundBirth – the first French startup to deliver an all-in-one mobile platform for artists, combining global music distribution, social media promotion, and AI-powered career support. Exploring the future of culture, design, and innovation Over the course of the day, a series of dynamic panel discussions also unpacked key issues shaping the future of the creative sector — from green design and digital innovation, to inclusive cultural institutions and urban tourism development through heritage. Highlights included: Driving Innovation: Start-Up Culture in CCI Moderated by creative entrepreneur and CEO of Chocolate Tribe, Nosipho Maketo-Van den Bragt, this session spotlighted the role of technology and entrepreneurship in reshaping music, media, and content platforms. Speakers included Maxime Marmoz (SoundBirth), Joy Mawela (Tshimologong Digital Content Hub), Jimmy Muteba (Moodswing) and Thomas Zandrowicz (Beam for Music). Green Design Futures A forward-thinking dialogue on sustainable design and ethical creativity across architecture, fashion, and the arts. Moderated by Eben Keun (Breinstorm Brand Architects), the panel featured Brendan McFarlane (Jakob + MacFarlane), Carline Grunfelder (Fabrik & Moi), Juliet Kavishe (Pan Afrikan Design Institute) and Eduardo Cachucho (Pro Helvetia Johannesburg). Cultural Institutions: Designing for Inclusion and New Publics Chaired by artist and curator Siwa Mgoboza, this session explored how institutions are becoming more accessible, innovative, and audience-focused. Contributions came from Caryn Green (Sibikwa Arts Centre), Simon Eyriès (Culturespaces) and Tanguy Sévat-Denuet (Agence culturelle PLUS). Shaping the Cultural Economy: Heritage & Events as Drivers of Urban Development Moderated by Avril Joffe (Associate Researcher Wits University, UNESCO Chair in Cultural Entrepreneurship and Policy), this panel showcased how cities can leverage culture for sustainable growth. Speakers included Beth Arendse (SA Creative Industries Incubator), Isabel Lecea (Memorist) and Claudie Bonavita (France Muséums). The Forum formed part of a 10-day immersion programme in South Africa for the visiting French delegation — comprised of leading creative companies across fashion, architecture, tech, heritage, and event production — as part of the broader ICC Immersion 2025 programme. The ICC Immersion South Africa programme began in April 2025 with an online immersion phase featuring market insight sessions and expert-led discussions. From 23 June to 2 July 2025, participants took part in a 10-day physical immersion across Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town, including B2B meetings, site visits, and high-level networking events. Copyright © 2022 - All materials can be used freely, indicating the origin Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
IOL News
14-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
The Unboxing Mayibuye Project: a digital journey through South Africa's apartheid history
The Unboxing Mayibuye has become like a walk through South African history Image: Instagram Preserving South Africa's liberation history is a gift to future generations. This according to David Martinon, Ambassador of France to South Africa, at the closing event of the Unboxing Mayibuye project on 8 May 2025. The event, held at the Nelson Mandela Gateway in Cape Town's V&A Waterfront, marked the successful conclusion of the Unboxing Mayibuye Project—a collaboration between the Robben Island Museum (RIM), the French National Audiovisual Institute (INA), and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). This initiative aimed to digitally preserve South Africa's liberation history and make it accessible to future generations. Robben Island, symbolising the struggle against apartheid, houses the Mayibuye Archives at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). These archives hold crucial collections documenting resistance to apartheid, both within South Africa and globally, spanning from 1948 to 1994. The three year project was hosted at Robben Island Museum Image: Instagram Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The successful completion of the project was a significant milestone for UWC. Professor Shaun Pather, advisor to the Rector and Vice-Chancellor at UWC, explained: 'This project has been about more than preserving artefacts. It has been about memory and justice, and making sure that the stories of struggle remain accessible and meaningful into the future.' In his keynote address, Professor Pather highlighted the project's impact on future generations: 'When youth engage with heritage, they become active participants in democracy, co-creating knowledge for the future. Our struggle for freedom wasn't just a national effort—it was global, and the Unboxing Mayibuye Project allows us to share that story with the world.' Pather went on to emphasise the importance of making South Africa's liberation history accessible in new, innovative ways: 'Our archives are not just national treasures; they are part of the collective memory of the world. Through this project, we've made sure that the legacy of our struggle is not locked away but is available for all, everywhere.' Every part of the exhibition held a special purpose Image: Instagram The project also showcased how academic institutions like UWC can link heritage, technology, and social justice. By leveraging digital tools, such as augmented reality, it ensured South Africa's liberation history reached a global audience, making it accessible to people worldwide. Over the past three years, RIM and INA worked to enhance the archives' digital preservation efforts, training six young assistants in preservation, documentation, and digitisation. A key outcome of the project was the creation of a website showcasing collections such as the International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF) and the Apple Box Archives. The IDAF supported anti-apartheid activists, while the Apple Box Archives feature items donated by former Robben Island prisoners after their release in 1991. Many prisoners carried their belongings in apple boxes, which became a powerful symbol of their struggle. Professor Saths Cooper, Chairperson of the Robben Island Museum, highlighted how the project had made these historical treasures more accessible. 'This is a significant development, allowing us all, especially our children, to access the contributions made by those who fought for our freedom.' Echoing South Africa's G20 presidency theme of 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,' Professor Pather emphasised the project's role in engaging young people with history: 'When youth engage with heritage, they become active participants in democracy, co-creating knowledge for the future.'
