Creative sector praises the appointment of Beth Arendse as new Chief Executive Officer of Business and Arts South Africa
She has extensive experience in innovation, working at the intersection of arts and technology in the creative and cultural sector.
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
After cruising for some months without a substantive Chief Executive Officer, after the quiet resignation of its former CEO Ashraf Johaardien last year September, Business and Arts South Africa, has finally found the person the board of directors believe will take the organisation forward.
The appointment of Arendse has been met with enthusiasm from some in the creative and cultural sector as she comes with immense experience from the sector, especially when it comes to the intersection of technology and creativity.
Announced on Monday, 23 June 2025, as the new boss for BASA, which connects arts to business, Arendse’s appointment as BASA’s new Chief Executive Officer, is effective 1 July 2025. ·
“Congratulations to Beth Arendse as CEO of Business Arts South Africa (BASA),” said Ismail Mahomed, Director of Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
“Congratulations Beth Arendse ……. from the team at IKS Cultural Consulting and Concerts SA,” said Andre Le Roux the Managing Director of creative sector consultancy IKS Cultural Consulating.
Artist and academic Dr Mariapaola McGurckadded her voice to those who believe that Beth is the right person to take the organisation forward.
“For many years I have believed that Beth Arendse has a critical role to play in the development of the Cultural and Creative Industries of South Africa. She has vision! She is a doer! She has empathy and knows the role she must play and when she must step back. She is the founder of The South African Creative Industries Incubator and last year realised it was time to step down and let others lead. Leote Taylor became the CEO of SACII after showing her talent, strength and potential while working within the organisation and has delivered!I am so excited to watch what this incredible woman does in this new position,” McGurck said who herself has just completed a PHD in innovation at the University of Johannesburg focussing on the cultural and creative sector.
Found in 1997, BASA is a joint initiative between government and the private sector, as part of a strategy to secure greater involvement by businesses operating in South Africa in the arts.
According to information about the organization, BASA was “established as a Section 21 company, BASA is constituted in terms of the Companies Act and is registered as a public benefit organization.
The new CEO comes in to fill the position with a lot of respect from the sector for the role she has previously played in the sector.
“With over 25 years of leadership experience in South Africa’s creative and cultural sectors, Beth brings visionary insight, strategic expertise, and an unwavering commitment to inclusive growth. Throughout her career, she has pioneered initiatives that seamlessly integrate the arts, entrepreneurship and education, empowering emerging creatives and advocating for the sustainable development of the creative economy.
Beth’s notable contributions include founding transformative platforms such as the Tshwane School of Music, the SA Creative Industries Incubator (SACII), and the Music Business Lab – programmes that have equipped hundreds of young creatives with essential skills, market access and business knowledge, enabling them to thrive in an increasingly competitive and evolving sector.
Beyond programme leadership, Beth has served on prominent national advisory bodies, including the Presidential Commission for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the National Advisory Council on Innovation. Her expert input has helped shape policies aimed at strengthening the creative sector’s adaptability to technological change and shifting economic landscapes,” BASA said.
“In the rigorous process of identifying a CEO, we were spoilt for choice by the calibre of candidates we had the opportunity to interact with, which speaks highly of the value that has been built in the BASA brand over the years. However, Beth’s undeniable passion for the creative industries, her entrepreneurial spirit, as well as her innovative approach to dealing with challenges and opportunities, won the day in the end. We are excited to be taking this step with her,” said Zingisa Motloba, Chairperson of the BASA Board.
Beth’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for BASA, as the organisation recommits to positioning the creative economy in its rightful place at the heart of South Africa’s national development agenda. Under her leadership, BASA aims to focus on unlocking the full economic, cultural, and innovation potential of the creative sector as a vital driver of inclusive growth. One of the first steps in this direction is a strategic revamp of its Membership Tiers, designed to better articulate and deliver the value BASA offers to businesses, creatives, and policy stakeholders alike. Beth’s vision will be instrumental in forging bold new partnerships across business, government, and civil society to ensure that the arts are not just supported—but leveraged—as a core asset in building South Africa’s future.
“I step into this role with a deep belief in the power of the creative economy to shape South Africa’s future—not only to inspire, but to generate economic opportunity, create livelihoods, and unlock the country’s full creative and economic potential. I’m honoured to lead BASA into its next chapter and look forward to forging bold partnerships that position creatives as key architects of our economic and social progress,” says Beth Arendse, BASA’s incoming CEO.