Kagiso Media Radio CEO Nick Grubb says, "We are excited to partner with the advertising industry's creative 'centre' — it gives us the opportunity to help keep South African advertising among the best in the world, but also support initiatives to grow and develop young talent." 

"We are a multimedia group that carries advertising across all our platforms and believes that great content comes from compelling people. Creative Circle and KMR are all about those people," adds Grubb. 

According to Kagiso Media Radio, Creative Circle is dedicated to maintaining high levels of creativity in South Africa's advertising industry. 

The organisation, which was founded 30 years ago, is guided by its purpose to inspire the transformation of product, people and perception through the power of creativity. 

"By ensuring high standards of creativity, we are able to ensure that South African agencies produce world-class creative solutions for clients, the best talent is attracted to our industry, and business sees creativity as an essential resource for growth," says Roanna Williams, the current chairperson of CC and CCO of Boundless. 

Williams adds that the NPO relies on sponsorships to keep it going. 

"Our sponsors — Kagiso Media Radio, SAB and Nedbank — are businesses that believe in the power of creativity for business success. With these sponsorships, we can support organisations like Blackboard and host inspiring and educational events like the Full Circle and the CC Best of the Year," Williams says. 

"We are also able to become the voice of South African creativity by having a presence at the Loeries, as well as a podcast Talking in Creative Circles," adds Williams. 

CC's Talking in Creative Circles podcast, which will launch in March, will also be sponsored by KMR. 

Kagiso Media Radio's on-demand content head Diane Macpherson, is thrilled to join hands with the Creative Circle in crafting a monthly podcast that will discuss important industry-related topics. 

"Talking In Creative Circles aims to inspire, recognise and foster creativity within South Africa's advertising community. Listeners will be privy to firsthand comments from some of Creative Circle's Ad of the Month / Year judges. It's going to be an exclusive peek behind the curtain at what makes an award-winning ad campaign," says Macpherson. 

KMR's sponsorship agreement includes involvement in Blackboard projects. 

The educational organisation, which is backed by Creative Circle, exposes children from underprivileged schools to creative disciplines and career paths, says KMR. 

Nkanyezi Masango, chief creative officer at Dentsu Creative and founder of Blackboard, said the organisation creates a pathway into the industry for marginalised high school learners. This helps elevate the industry's creativity through fresh minds and new perspectives from talent that wasn't previously available. 

"In a country with such a high unemployment rate, creativity offers new opportunities for young people to participate in the economy. It also validates the creative kids who were never going to become lawyers and doctors. It's important that we validate creativity as a useful skill in society," Masango concludes. 

Creative Circle's Best of 2023 Awards (also known as Ad of the Year) will be taking place in Johannesburg on Thursday, 14 March. Talking in Creative Circles will debut on Tuesday, 19 March.  

For more information, visit www.kagisomedia.co.za. You can also follow KMR on Facebook, LinkedIn, X or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor