The FynArts Development Fund, the sole beneficiary of the festival, extends its impact beyond the annual celebration by investing in the growth, sustainability and future of the arts within our local, underserved community.

The Fund promotes both the practice and business of the arts through initiating and supporting projects that offer mentorship, skills development, marketing and networking opportunities.

At the heart of the fund is the Youth Development Platform, which creates opportunities for a variety of young creatives to showcase their work to wider audiences; these include short exhibitions in the FynArts Gallery, the schools Choir Celebration launched in 2022, as well as short scripted, directed and performed works on the festival programme.

In 2025, the festival Fashion Show, choreographed and produced by Lilian Lloys-Ellis, marked a new milestone. Featuring four emerging fashion designers from Zwelihle, the event celebrated innovation, creativity and individuality, through fusing fashion with performance. Singers, dancers and poets took the stage between each designer’s collections, revealing both
the depth of local talent and the need for a more structured, ongoing platform.

The FynArts Open-Stage Lab, launched in January this year at the Mulit-Purpose Centre in the New Harbour offers a structure and collaborative programme for aspiring creatives living in Zwelihle, Mount Pleasant and Hawston. The fortnightly programme includes workshops, guest speakers, peer learning, performance collaborations and informal performances to build skills, confidence and collaboration, and pathways into the wider arts community.