A decade of developing talent, creating opportunities, making actors feel seen and preserving African acting history
Award-winning creative industry development organisation Actor Spaces is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of empowering actors, creating opportunities and contributing to the growth and preservation of South Africa and Africa’s creative industries.
Founded in 2016 by Ayanda Sithebe and Felicia Naiwa Sithebe, Actor Spaces has evolved into a 360-degree ecosystem for actors, supporting performers through skills development, casting, mentorship, youth empowerment, inclusion, industry partnerships, digital storytelling and recognition.
At its core is a simple philosophy: actors need more than auditions. They need access, development, opportunity, visibility, community, recognition and a legacy.
A DECADE OF IMPACT
Over ten years, Actor Spaces has created:
- 3 500 + jobs, auditions and professional opportunities
- 500+ aspiring actors trained through the Actor Spaces Academy
- 100+ workshops, masterclasses and programmes delivered
- 20+ major productions cast and supported
- 12 Deaf practitioners trained through Sign Leads
- Connections across 12 African countries
- Millions of digital impressions across its platforms
The organisation has contributed to casting productions including The Polygamist, Average Joe, 180, Marked, Savage Beauty Season 2, Meet The Khumalos, The Wife, King Shaka, Reyka Season 2, MTV Shuga and How to Ruin Love, among others.
But Actor Spaces’ work extends beyond casting. Its model is built around six pillars:
IDENTIFY. DEVELOP. PLACE. HONOUR. CAPTURE. PRESERVE.
Through the Actor Spaces Academy, industry programmes and mentorship, the organisation develops talent and creates pathways into professional opportunities. Through its editorial platforms, awards, portraits and industry initiatives, it ensures actors are also seen, celebrated and remembered.
MAKING ACTORS FEEL SEEN AND PRESERVING THEIR STORIES
Through its Online Magazine, interviews, profiles, portraits and creative shoots, Actor Spaces is helping document South Africa’s acting history and the wider African creative story.
The organisation believes that actors should be remembered not only for the characters they played, but for who they are, the careers they built and the contribution they make to the industry.
Its editorial and portrait work captures actors at different moments in their careers, creating an evolving archive of the people behind African film, television and theatre. Actor Spaces’ ambition is for these stories and images to live on, ensuring that African acting history remains accessible to future generations.
BUILDING A SAFETY NET FOR ACTORS
Actor Spaces continues to be a safety net for actors a place performers can return to throughout their careers for knowledge, opportunity, development, visibility, community and support.
This commitment extends to inclusion and access through initiatives such as Sign Leads, developed with Ikhamanga Award recipient Andiswa Gebashe of Andy-Signs, as well as youth development, financial literacy, women’s leadership and professional development programmes. The initiative equips Deaf practitioners with professional skills while advocating for greater accessibility and representation within the entertainment industry.
Through its partnership with the Africa Creative Market, founded by Dr Inya Lawal of Nigeria, Actor Spaces has expanded its continental reach through the Unlocking the African Actor Programme. The programme connected actors and creative practitioners from across Africa, including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Botswana, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique, among others, creating opportunities for professional development, knowledge exchange and cross-border collaboration. The programme culminated in a continental gathering in Zambia in June 2026.
The organisation further honours those who came before through initiatives that Honour Legends, while the Actor Spaces Awards will create a platform to celebrate excellence and recognise the contribution of actors and creative practitioners.
FOUNDERS REFLECT ON A DECADE OF IMPACT
“Actor Spaces was created to protect and celebrate the craft of acting while opening meaningful opportunities for performers. Reaching this milestone confirms the importance of the work, and our commitment to growing the industry has never been stronger, ” says Ayanda Sithebe, Founder of Actor Spaces.
Co-Founder Felicia Naiwa Sithebe adds:
“We have become a thriving community of creatives. Over the past ten years, we have seen firsthand what happens when talent is given access, knowledge and opportunity. We remain committed to creating pathways, preserving our stories and empowering the next generation of African talent.”
THE NEXT DECADE
As Actor Spaces enters its second decade, its focus is on expanding its continental footprint, strengthening partnerships and creating more sustainable opportunities for African performers.
Future priorities include growing the Actor Spaces Awards, establishing the Actor Spaces Actor Fund to provide training, mentorship and emergency assistance, and continuing to invest in accessibility, youth empowerment, professional development and the preservation of African creative history.
What began in 2016 as a passion project has grown into a platform and community committed to ensuring that actors have somewhere to turn throughout their careers.
After ten years, the purpose remains clear:
Actor Spaces exists to help actors enter the industry, develop their craft, access opportunities, be recognised for their contribution and leave behind a lasting record of the role they played in shaping it.
Actor Spaces: 10 Years of Impact. 5,000+ Opportunities Created. One African Future.
