The Scene is a platform for Cape Town's cultural ecosystem.

We exist to document culture as it happens, making it easier to discover, participate in and contribute to the city's creative life.

Our mission is to make Cape Town's cultural life more visible, connected and accessible by bringing together the people, places and events that shape it. We believe a healthy cultural ecosystem depends on discovery, participation and connection, and that a shared platform can help strengthen those relationships.

The Scene is open to submissions from anyone, but that doesn't mean we publish everything. Every event is reviewed to ensure it aligns with the platform's purpose.

The question that guides our editorial review is simple:

Does this event meaningfully contribute to Cape Town's cultural ecosystem?

The principles below explain how we answer that question.

Events that contribute to Cape Town's cultural life belong on The Scene.

The Scene exists to help people discover and participate in the creative and cultural experiences taking place across the city.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Live music and DJ events
• Theatre and performance
• Art exhibitions and gallery openings
• Film screenings
• Literary events and book launches
• Talks, lectures and panel discussions
• Workshops and creative learning experiences
• Markets featuring artists, makers and independent producers
• Curated food and dining experiences
• Walking tours and place-based experiences
• Festivals and multidisciplinary cultural events
• Community gatherings centred around culture, creativity or shared interests

We are interested in events that enrich Cape Town's cultural life, regardless of their size, discipline or audience.

Original creative practice is at the heart of The Scene.

We prioritise events that showcase original work, independent ideas and the people creating them.

Whether it's a new exhibition, an underground music performance, a community workshop, or a neighbourhood gathering, we want to support the people who are actively contributing to Cape Town's cultural landscape.

Events whose primary purpose is reproducing existing commercial entertainment or derivative performances will generally not be published.

Authenticity matters.

Technology continues to shape creative practice, and we welcome its thoughtful use.

What matters most is that an event authentically represents the people, ideas and creative work behind it. Promotional material should reflect the event's genuine identity rather than rely on synthetic or misleading imagery.

Submissions that rely heavily on AI-generated promotional material without serving the event's creative identity may not be accepted.

Community is an essential part of cultural life.

The Scene is interested in more than performances and exhibitions.

We also welcome events that bring people together through culture, creativity and shared experience. Workshops, listening sessions, walking tours, reading groups, community gatherings and other participatory events all play an important role in Cape Town's cultural ecosystem.

The Scene is not a general events directory.

Not every event taking place in Cape Town belongs on the platform.

We generally do not publish events whose primary purpose is:

• Commercial promotion or product marketing
• Corporate networking or business development
• Sales, recruitment or lead generation
• Property, investment or financial promotion
• Brand activations with little or no cultural component
• Events that fall outside the scope of Cape Town's cultural ecosystem

The presence of music, food or entertainment alone does not necessarily make an event a good fit for The Scene.

Editorial review

Every submission is reviewed before publication.

Our aim is not to judge the quality or popularity of an event, but to determine whether it belongs within the cultural ecosystem that The Scene exists to support. Decisions are guided by the principles above rather than an event's scale, commercial success or profile.

As Cape Town's cultural landscape evolves, these guidelines will evolve alongside it.