VIDEO & PICS: Urban Playground opens in Rosebank to nurture South Africa’s next generation of creatives

A new multi-purpose creative hub, Urban Playground, has opened its doors in Rosebank with the ambitious goal of becoming a home for South Africa’s growing street culture while creating opportunities for young people to turn their talents into careers. Known as the Urban Playground, the venue officially launched to the media ahead of its public opening on 1 August. The facility brings together a wide range of creative disciplines under one roof, including skateboarding, BMX, esports, street soccer, basketball, dance, fashion, music production and podcasting.

Founder Adriano Franco said the vision was to build an ecosystem that exposes young people to opportunities they may never have encountered otherwise. “We’re building an ecosystem that’s going to help grow the creative industry in the country,” he said. Franco explained that many aspiring creatives struggle to access the resources and mentorship needed to develop their skills.

Beyond offering recreational facilities, the project also has a strong focus on youth development. ALSO SEE:PODCAST | DJ Fresh talks Kaya 959, parenting, music and Amapiano’s global takeover The organisationis currently mentoring 20 young people in areas including fashion design, photography, filmmaking and editing, while also running skateboarding lessons and a street soccer academy. General manager Ozwin Edwards said one of the venue’s standout attractions is its innovative 3v3 street soccer courts, where teams compete without goalkeepers and defend two goals instead of one. Edwards said the concept offers an alternative pathway for aspiring footballers who may not pursue the traditional 11-a-side game.