A British Council initiative, the MLN was launched as part of a year-long season of cultural exchanges between the UK and South Africa. The purpose was to encourage the sharing of knowledge, resources and ideas through a network of makerspaces in the two countries. The programme was launched with interactive showcases in partnership with the V&A Museum at the Design Indaba and Guild events in Cape Town. Cultural exchanges then took place over the course of the year culminating in an exhibition about the initiative at Vitra Design Museum, Basel.