The purpose of this research is to investigate the socio-economic and associated political circumstances that inform the conditions of non-nationals participating in the South African cultural...Show moreThe purpose of this research is to investigate the socio-economic and associated political circumstances that inform the conditions of non-nationals participating in the South African cultural industry. This is in light of previous literature on cultural productions of diasporas but applied to the specific context of Johannesburg. The exploration is relevant in contributing to discussions surrounding the South-South migration, sustainable immigration and integration, gatekeeping practices, as well as providing arguments for more inclusive cultural policy making decisions. Central to this research are questions regarding barriers to the creative sector, the use of hybrid form and content in cultural productions of non-nationals, and the dichotomy between ‘self-presentation’ and ‘other-presentation’ of non-nationals in institutionalized spaces. The research is conducted using a multimodal discourse analysis and took place during a research internship at a Johannesburg-based emerging artists center. Primary analysis is in the form of nine semi-structured interviews (in-person and online) whereas secondary analysis examines the content of the creative products of each respondent. Findings show that the cultural production of non-nationals is affected the most by local market demands and financial considerations. There is clear evidence that respondents wish to assimilate their works into the local scene by using specific business strategies and aesthetic adaptations. Therefore, respondents do not wish to highlight themselves as ‘others’ in their ‘self-presentation’. This posed a direct contrast to institutional framing techniques that highlight diasporic individuals in a tokenizing way. The logistics of migration and xenophobia prove to be the greatest challenges for non-nationals but despite this, individuals wish to remain in Johannesburg and continue working in the cultural industries.Show less