At Cape Town Creative Academy (CTCA), real-world experience is a cornerstone of creative education. From internships and apprenticeships to industry-led assessments, CTCA ensures students graduate with practical skills and professional insight. One such student is Kayla Swart, a third-year Communication Design student currently interning at the BMW Centre for Art Education at Zeitz MOCAA , Africa’s leading museum of contemporary art. Her internship merges her interests in design, education, and community engagement.
Supporting the Matric Exhibition: Area Codes: Against the Grain
Kayla’s Reflections
Kayla’s journey reflects CTCA’s commitment to industry-integrated learning. Her experience demonstrates how creative education, when paired with professional exposure, empowers students to make meaningful contributions to the sector.
Q: Why did you choose to do your internship at Zeitz MOCAA’s BMW Centre for Art Education?
Kayla: I was lucky to be part of the first Matric Workshop at the museum in 2022, which really laid the foundation for this internship. When I began thinking about internships for this year, I was conflicted because I couldn’t find an option that combined all the skills and interests I wanted to explore. But I had always felt connected to this space and the Education Department. It combines so many fields – creative learning, museum engagement, and community building. What I love most is that the department makes art accessible not just for learners and students, but for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of working on the Area Codes: Against the Grain exhibition?
Kayla: There are so many! This experience has contributed greatly to my professional growth, but it has also left a lasting impression on me personally. Like any internship, I’ve learnt about responsibility, teamwork, and the importance of organisation. But I’ve also learnt that a workplace can be a place of friendship. I had imagined the professional world as rigid and robotic, but this experience showed me that it can also be warm, collaborative, and hopeful.
Q: Were there any challenges you faced during the project, and how did you overcome them?
Kayla: At first, I struggled to find my voice in guiding Grade 12 learners through their creative processes. Balancing my identity as both a student and a professional was daunting. But this internship gave me confidence – I’ve learnt about teaching styles, interaction, and communication, and I feel much more sure of my voice. I trust myself more now, even though I know there’s still so much to learn.
Q: What advice would you give learners who want to study in the creative field?
Kayla: Committing to a creative career can be challenging. You need to let go of preconceived ideas and fully immerse yourself in the process. The moments where you feel on the brink of uncertainty – that’s where the real growth happens. And you can’t be lazy! Passion and curiosity have to lead the way. If there’s a will, you’ll find a way.
Q: What’s next for you after graduating?
Kayla: At the moment, I’m focused on completing my final projects before graduation. In 2026, I hope to return to Cape Town Creative Academy to pursue a Postgraduate qualification in Visual Communication. For me, it feels like the natural next step – to deepen my practice, refine my voice as a designer, and continue growing within a space that has already shaped so much of my creative journey.
Coffee with Kayla and Talia
Over coffee in the Ocular Lounge on the sixth floor of the Silo building, with Table Mountain and the harbour spread out before us, we spoke with Kayla and her supervisor, Talia Naiker, about creativity, education, and growth.
Q: Kayla, could you start by introducing yourself?
Kayla: Hi, I’m Kayla, a third-year Communication Design student at CTCA. I recently completed my internship with the Education Department at Zeitz MOCAA.
Q: Talia, please tell us a bit about yourself.
Talia: I’m Talia Naiker, Education Manager at the BMW Centre for Art Education, Zeitz MOCAA. I had the privilege of supervising Kayla during her internship. My work focuses on connecting education and creativity, making art meaningful and accessible for people of all ages.
Q: Kayla, what was the most rewarding part of your internship?
Kayla: I’ve learnt how friendship and business can merge in a space of collaboration and community. It showed me that creativity and learning truly go hand in hand.
Q: Talia, what stood out for you while supervising Kayla?
Talia: Kayla and I first met in 2022 during a Grade 12 workshop, so having her return as an intern was a full-circle moment. It was inspiring to see how much she had grown and the new skills she brought to the role.
Q: Kayla, how has this experience shaped your approach to design and education?
Kayla: I’ve realised that learning doesn’t just happen in schools or universities—it happens across all stages of life. I now see education as a way of being, something that fuels curiosity and creativity for everyone.
Q: Talia, what excites you about connecting creativity and education?
Talia: Learning is inherently creative, so the two are naturally linked. It’s not only about practising skills, but also about sharing them with others. At its heart, creativity and education are about people, connection, and growth.
Q: What do you both feel Zeitz MOCAA and CTCA have in common?
Kayla: Both put curiosity at the centre of creativity and make art accessible to all. That’s what drew me in.
Talia: Exactly – and both institutions invest in the future, in the next generation of artists, designers, and creatives. They encourage experimentation, embrace mistakes, and keep looking forward.
Talia Naiker, Education Manager at Zeitz MOCAA, supervised Kayla’s internship and shared insights into the museum’s educational philosophy
“The annual Grade 12 Workshop run by the Zeitz MOCAA BMW Centre For Art Education is a testament to the power of creative collaboration and the magic that happens when we give our learners the opportunity to speak for themselves. Over the last four years, we have grown a community of creatives who see creativity as a way to stay connected and build new communities. The relationships made during the Matric Workshop build bridges into many other spaces and projects, and we are exceptionally proud to have had Kayla Swart from the Cape Town Creative Academy come back as an intern after completing the 2022 Matric Workshop”
Talia Naicker, Education Manager
Kayla’s advice to aspiring creatives
“Let go of preconceived ideas and immerse yourself fully. Growth happens in moments of uncertainty. Passion and curiosity must lead the way.”
What’s Next?
Kayla plans to pursue a Postgraduate qualification in Visual Communication at CTCA in 2026, deepening her design practice and continuing her journey within a space that has shaped her creative identity.
