FNB And Solo Studios Unite To Empower Women In The Creative And Wine Economy

When one of South Africa’s biggest banks decides to put its name behind a small but vibrant arts festival in the Swartland, it’s worth paying attention.

FNB recently partnered with Solo Studios as the exclusive sponsor of Women in Art and Wine 2025 – and the partnership spoke volumes about how seriously the bank takes lifestyle, wine and the creative economy.

An intimate, open-studio arts festival in Riebeek Kasteel in the Riebeek Valley, Solo Studios has grown since its inception in 2016 into a must-do weekend outing for art lovers. Visitors are invited into the workspace of more than 60 artists, turning the village into one big, walkable gallery. In October last year, the focus on women in art and wine was stronger than ever – and that’s when FNB stepped in.

“FNB’s partnership with Solo Studios was born from a shared belief in the transformative power of creativity, community and commerce,” says Nicole Sykes, head of Women in Business, FNB Commercial. “At its heart, this collaboration was about sponsorship, but also about creating platforms where women could thrive in industries that had historically been overlooked.”

Art and wine

Solo Studios has always had a strong community focus. Visitors don’t just look at art hanging on white walls, they can step into artists’ homes and studios, talk to them, and see how and where their artwork is made. For many of these artists, especially women, that direct engagement is a lifeline.

“Grassroots engagement is central to the sustainability of the creative economy,” Solo Studios co-owner and joint project manager Ashley Stone says. “For many of the participating artists, particularly women-led studios, this engagement is transformative. It allows them to build direct markets, receive immediate feedback and retain full value for their work without intermediaries.”

That same thinking guided the wine activations FNB supported. The Women in Art and Wine tasting at The Valley Potager showcased wines from women winemakers, including Gynore Hendricks of Great Heart Wines, the staff-owned label established by Chris and Andrea Mullineux. There was also a separate tasting hosted by Hendricks, giving visitors the chance to engage with both the wine and the woman behind it.

For a bank that has traditionally been associated with formal business sectors, the partnership with Solo Studios is a clear step into a lifestyle-led strategy to back wine, art, ceramics and hospitality not as nice-to-haves, but as serious economic drivers.

“Women in Art and Wine is a celebration of resilience, creativity and enterprise,” Nicole says. “These industries – art, winemaking and hospitality – are rich with potential but often lack the structural support needed to elevate women to positions of influence and sustainability.”

Value of art and wine So, what does this kind of partnership mean for wine? Quite a lot, actually, especially for smaller, independent and women-led brands.

Firstly, it deepens the connection between wine and experience-based tourism. Solo Studios is not a stadium event, it’s a village experience. Art, wine, food and place are all part of the same story. Visitors might come for the art, but they often leave, having discovered new wines, and vice versa.

“By merging the worlds of fine art, winemaking and village life, Solo Studios draws visitors beyond the main highways and into the heart of the community,” Ashley says. “This ripple effect supports a wide local network, from wine cellars and accommodation providers to restaurants, artisans and farmworkers.”

For wineries in and around the Swartland and Riebeek Valley, that means new traffic, new audiences and new reasons for people to stay over rather than pass through.

It also puts women winemakers front and centre. By curating tastings specifically around women in wine and pairing them with women in art and design, FNB and Solo Studios helps to influence the narrative of women as creators, owners and decision-makers, not just marketers or the face of a brand.

Finally, there’s the credibility and reach that come with partnering with FNB. “To have a company such as FNB get behind us, with its interest in driving a flourishing South African art scene, and its large client base, is truly game-changing,” Ashley says. “They are the ideal partners to help us grow our festival, and the lives and livelihoods of our artists who benefited immensely from the expanded audience FNB brought to the table.”

For wine businesses, especially those targeting the bank’s commercial and private client base, the event is a powerful example of a high-value audience discovering brands in a relaxed, human setting.

Solid commitment

FNB has made it clear this is not a once-off, tick-the-box sponsorship. “While Solo Studios 2025 marked an exciting moment, FNB views this collaboration as the start of a broader, long-term journey,” Nicole says. “The partnership aligns with FNB’s commitment to promote entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment and creative innovation in regional economies.”

Ashley echoes this approach. “We aren’t just investing in events, we’re investing in women’s stories, their businesses and their futures.” FNB’s support goes beyond merely putting its name on posters. It includes tailored financial solutions, mentorship, enterprise development programmes and access to platforms that help women scale their businesses, whether in art, wine, hospitality or anywhere in between. “Our goal is not just to support women in the moment, but to help them build businesses that thrive for generations.”

For wine, it could mean everything from targeted business banking tools for boutique producers to structured programmes that help women in wine move from employee to shareholder or from side hustle to full-time brand.

Treading softly

There’s always a risk when big corporates enter small creative spaces, sparking the fear that the brand overshadows the work. FNB is aware of this. “True partnership means listening first,” Nicole says. “We aim to be enablers, not directors by providing resources and visibility while allowing creative voices to lead. We’re intentional about ensuring that our involvement uplifts rather than overshadows and the spotlight remains firmly on the women and communities driving their work.”

For wine producers, that’s also an important approach. The goal is not for FNB to own the narrative, but to help amplify it, whether through hosted tastings, content, customer events or future collaborations in other wine regions.

Boost for wine and art

Solo Studios may be a small festival in the Riebeek Valley. But with FNB at its side and women at its centre, it offers a glimpse of a future where art, wine, lifestyle and money speak the same language that’s rooted in community, creativity and shared value.

For wine businesses looking to grow beyond traditional trade shows and standard tastings, these kinds of partnerships have already opened up new possibilities. By pairing wine with art, design and food in more immersive ways, they reach new audiences through lifestyle-led banking platforms and position women not just as faces of campaigns, but as owners, creatives and leaders.

Perhaps the most important message from FNB is simple – and surprisingly human for a bank. “We see you,” Nicole says. “We believe in you. And we’re here to walk beside you. Your creativity is not just beautiful, it’s powerful. It builds businesses, tells stories and helps change the future.”

To explore more articles in our March issue, Local is lekker, purchase our digital or print magazine here.