At Sibikwa Arts Centre, CEO Caryn Green blends creativity with purpose, building community, opportunity and global collaboration through the power of theatre.
South Africa (07 October 2025) – As we venture further into the partnership with The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), we meet more inspiring South Africans. This week, we meet Caryn Green, the CEO of Sibikwa Arts Centre, whose passion goes beyond the arts as the surrounding community takes centre stage.
Caryn has been creative all her life, participating in creative arts and dance programmes, and playing instruments since childhood. From there, she joined the Pietermaritzburg Children’s Choir and was the student leader for live arts and culture at her alma mater, Epworth School. She later studied Arts and Humanities at Wits, and it was here that she started to find her purpose in using the arts to inspire change in South Africa.
“When I moved to Johannesburg to study, I saw more clearly how uneven access and opportunity are across our country. That’s when my purpose started to come into focus: not just to create, but to make space for others to create too. I began to see myself as a facilitator of access, someone who could use the arts to build bridges and open doors.”
For Caryn, the arts became about healing, challenging, connecting, and creating space for people to see themselves and each other differently. She spent a decade in academia before joining Sibikwa.
Sibikwa has nearly 40 years of history, serving as a custodian of local stories and a powerhouse behind the arts in Gauteng. Caryn joined the organisation in 2019, as part of a structured leadership succession plan, designed to ensure a smooth, guided and supported transition from co-founders Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz, ahead of her appointment as CEO in 2021.
“Stepping into the role of CEO has been both humbling and expansive. Sibikwa carries almost 40 years of history, and with that comes a huge responsibility – especially in today’s uncertain economic and political climate. I feel accountable not only to the legacy of those who came before me, but also to our current communities, beneficiaries, staff and partners, and to those who will inherit Sibikwa in the future.”
“On a personal level, this journey has stretched me in ways I couldn’t have predicted. It has taught me resilience – how to navigate financial pressures, shifting policy landscapes, and the changing needs of the community – while making tough decisions without losing compassion. It has also taught me to trust my own voice – to lead with courage, but also with humility and openness.”
In an exciting collaboration during this time, Sibikwa partnered with IFAS to present a production of Ariane Mnouchkine’s 1789. The production was a product of years of collaboration with French partners. Aptly, the production premiered to Johannesburg audiences on July 14, 2023, coinciding with Bastille Day.
“The production created a powerful bridge between global histories of revolution, rights, and transformation and our own South African context – especially resonant as questions of inequality, justice, and belonging remain urgent in our democracy. Between 2023 and 2024, as South Africa marked 30 years of democracy, the production toured the Sibikwa Arts Centre, the National Arts Festival, and the Joburg Theatre, before being honoured with the Naledi CEO’s Award for Innovation in Theatre.”
In the lead-up to the production, for the first time on the African continent, members of Théâtre du Soleil (TdS) visited Sibikwa, bringing their acclaimed École Nomade to share perspectives, methods, and techniques in staging, design, acting, and stagecraft. Local actors, both emerging and seasoned, had the opportunity to tap into the theatrical insights of this incredible team.
“This exchange stretched local practice, introducing new approaches without undermining the richness of South African theatre traditions.”
“It also fostered deep cross-cultural dialogue, helping the production resonate locally while honouring the integrity of TdS’s original vision and techniques. Working alongside TdS encouraged experimentation and innovation – a collaboration so immersive that we were all singing French songs for weeks after the production ended”
Not only did the production have a lasting effect on the Sibikwa team, but it resonated deeply with the audience, too. The collaboration with IFAS, members of Théâtre du Soleil and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Institut français in Paris, and the City of Paris, was meaningful in so many ways.
“It was a vivid reminder of the power of solidarity across geographies: how stories from elsewhere can mirror our own society, and how art can help us see ourselves more clearly. For Sibikwa, it reaffirmed our belief in theatre as a space to challenge power, to root performances in historical metaphor while speaking directly to contemporary realities. And for everyone involved – audiences and artists alike – it pushed boundaries, provoked dialogue, and inspired the difficult but necessary reflections that can deepen our understanding of society and our place in it.”
Artistic exchange holds so much power for both the artists and the benefactors involved in making the collaboration possible. The most meaningful of all was that some of the cast were part of the neurodiverse community, being given the opportunity to shine on stage.
At Sibikwa, the community plays the leading role in the work being done. Not only are the arts celebrated, but nurturing the surrounding community, through educational upliftment, social projects and other elements that go beyond the arts. Helping nurture entrepreneurs is another big focus, with incubation programmes that are creating small businesses within the township communities, each of which has the power to put food on the table, create jobs, and provide experience to those who have bigger dreams.
“Sibikwa is unique because it doesn’t separate artistry from purpose. Everything we do brings together performance, social impact, and skills development. We train artists, educators, and facilitators; we nurture entrepreneurship and leadership; we create spaces for people not just to appreciate art but to participate in culture, build careers, and tell their own stories.”
“What stays with me is how much these journeys matter – not only to the individuals themselves, but to the ripple effects in their families, their peers, and their wider communities. Many have transformed their own lives and, in doing so, created opportunities for others through careers in various industries, creative enterprise, and community change.”
“Seeing someone who may once have felt invisible grow into someone who is seen, heard, and making a difference is deeply rewarding – and it is at the heart of what makes Sibikwa feel like home.”
As for what comes next, youth are always at the forefront of the team’s plans alongside key focus areas of environmental awareness, digital integration, civic education and inclusion. Sibikwa always has events to enjoy and projects to support, so be sure to check the website here.
Speaking to Caryn, you can see the passion she has for inspiring the next generation of artists, critical thinkers and entrepreneurs. We asked her what advice she has for hopeful youths who are passionate about performing.
“Your story matters. Even when it feels like the odds are against you, creativity, persistence, community, and a commitment to learning can carry you far. Treat your craft with discipline, humility, and pride. Seek out spaces that believe in you, but also create your own. Be curious, take risks, and don’t wait for perfect conditions – just start! And remember, even the smallest action can create ripples that lead to great things.”
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