Mauritius is set to host the inaugural Mauritius Art and Culture Investment Summit (MACIS), as the island nation sets to transform itself into a leading art and cultural-tourism destination across Africa and the Indian Ocean region.
- •The inaugural edition will be headlined by the presence of Christie’s Middle-East – the world’s leading auction house – in what the event planners say "marks a significant statement of confidence in the region’s cultural potential."
- •Running in parallel with the summit, the United for Climate (3rd edition), Art Exhibition will showcase artists from across the Indian Ocean islands working exclusively with recycled, repurposed, and reused materials.
- •Across sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, the creative economy is projected to be worth over tens of billions by 2030, yet infrastructure, institutional frameworks, and access to capital remain underdeveloped.
“Culture is not only a driver of identity, but a strategic economic asset. By fostering creative industries, cultural tourism, and heritage preservation, it generates employment, attracts investment, and strengthens global partnerships – turning cultural expression into tangible economic and social value," Zaahirah Muthy, Founder, ZeeArts & Initiator of MACIS, said.
Mauritius sits at a remarkable cultural crossroads. Its artistic identity is shaped by waves of African, Indian, Chinese, and European influence, producing a creative scene that is both richly layered and distinctively its own. Yet for all its cultural wealth, the island’s creative industries remain significantly underinvested.
