The lively audience in attendance participated actively in the session and lingered for some time afterwards, utilising the opportunity to catch up with creative colleagues and to network with new contacts.

"These free public engagements are linked to the 2015 conference.
"The idea is for the series to create a bridge, linking conversations that emerged from the 2012 and 2013 conferences, and to pick up and build on the content which has been curated for this year," she explains.

The first four conversations are themed around the more traditional arts and culture genres - theatre, music, visual arts and dance respectively - and feature a range of industry stalwarts including: André le Roux, Concord Nkabinde, Violet Maila, Mariapaola McGurk, Usha Seejarim, Nadia Virasamy, Kieron Jina and PJ Sabbagha.

The final session, which wraps up the first series of five, concludes with Pieter Jacobs (CEO of the Arts &amp Culture Trust) in conversation with Lynsey Smith (British Council Creative Economy programme manager for Sub-Saharan Africa). The series continues with a further five conversations to be announced after the conference and will provide opportunities for those engaged in the creative industries to take the conference conversations forward.

The programme for the remaining conversations in the series is as follows:

Topic: Music
Date: Thursday, 12 February
Time: 17:30 for 18:00

Topic: Visual Arts
Date: Thursday, 19 February
Time: 17:30 for 18:00

Topic: Dance
Date: Thursday, 26 February
Time: 17:30 for 18:00

Topic: Creative industries
Date: Thursday, 5 March
Time: 17:30 for 18:00

The series takes place in the Upstairs Studio at the UJ Arts Centre on the Kingsway Campus. Entrance is free but space is limited. To RSVP email Precious at [email protected].

The 2015 ACT | UJ Arts &amp Culture Conference taking place from Monday, 8 to Wednesday, 10 March and is entitled Creatives Make It Happen. The conference presented by the Arts &amp Culture Trust, UJ Arts &amp Culture and British Council Connect ZA, with support from the Department of Arts and Culture, Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), SAMRO Foundation, Pro Helvetia, the European Union, the SA-UK Seasons 2014 and 2015; and media partners Classicfeel magazine and UJ FM 95.4.

For more information about the conference visit the Creative Conference website.