In 2014 The Coloured Cube was opened by myself, Mariapaola (MP), specialising in creative space activation. The company grew from just myself as a sole prop to being a registered PTY with 10 employees. Working and collaborating with some of South Africa’s top artists, actors, photographers, writers, designers and social media strategists, The Coloured Cube offered its clients a combination of crea
tivity, skill and professionalism in a manner never seen before. We won 3 Business and Arts South Africa awards within those 6 years, as well as being used as a 'best practice' case study for our approach to corporate, university and government collaboration and mutually beneficial output. The company took on a major investment by buying a large workshop, 4IR machinery and a truck for its growth and the development of a creative hub called The Creative Co-LAB to be launched in 2020. Covid devastated us and the company stopped operating facing bankruptcy all employees were retrenched and all equipment, building and car sold. Rather than that being the end I have streamlined and begun again with the hope to offer consulting, lecturing and collaboration to others within the Creative Economy. This is alongside my practice as a practicing visual artist specialising in contemporary papercutting. Micro entrepreneurship and the development of the Creative Economy could play a vital role within South Africa and our dire youth unemployment rates. As stated by Pamela Coke-Hamilton, UNCTAD's International Trade and Commodities Director - “The creative economy and its industries are strategic sectors that if nurtured can boost competitiveness, productivity, sustainable growth, employment and exports potential,"
This page will now be redirected to focus on the new direction that I am taking, but also to share resources and knowledge within the creative economy. The thread shows the journey of one micro company and its impact...imagine if there were thousands of creative micro companies thriving within our communities with a focus on income generation, community upliftment and individual representation and pride - that's what is possible!
