Culture Fund calls for applications
By Dumisani Ndlovu
Gweru-The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe has called on players — individuals, groups and organisations — in the creative sector wishing to embark on innovative artistic programmes to apply for funds under its programme, called CreativeACTIONs 2.
Culture Fund Executive Director, Farai Mupfunya who was on a national tour told journalists in Gweru, yesterday that the special three-year €2 million funding facility from the European Union Delegation in Zimbabwe grant was meant for arts-related projects.
“I am so excited because we have a new project called CreativeACTIONs 2.It is a continuation of another one CreativeAction 1 that aimed to strengthen artists, associations and unions in Zimbabwe. We launched it at the National Arts Gallery in Harare,on the 24th of February with the Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry, Ambassador of the European Union to Zimbabwe, HE Jobst von Kirchmann and the Board Chairperson, Nellie Tiyago-Jikinya,” he said.
Mpfunya added that this particular project which has the funding of European Union will run for 36 months.
“Aiming to fill in the gaps of capacity, skills, engagements and collaborations within the Zimbabwe’s creative sector,” Mpfunya said.
He invited all artists from both urban and rural areas from across Zimbabwean’s ten provinces to apply.
“This facility is free expression of their art and engagement with audiences around arts, culture, and heritage, social and contemporary issues,” she said.
Applicants are also invited to apply for small grants to travel to destinations that promote progressive societal cohesion and development.
“The facility has a special focus on the more marginalised community, women in particular. We want artists outside Harare and Bulawayo to benefit. They can apply through Culture Fund online platform, “he said.
Speaking at the recent launch Culture Fund chair Nellie Tiyago-Jinjika said: “Culture Fund is grateful to long-standing development partners – the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe; for investing over €2 million into the creative sector over three years.”
CreativeACTIONs 2, which runs from 2023–2025, is a continuation of CreativeACTIONs 1 (2020–2021).
Tiyago-Jinjika added Culture Fund value all players within the ecosystem.
“We value all palyers without whom the Culture Fund serves little purpose. We align our programmes to national development priorities.” she said.
According to Culture Fund, CreativeACTIONs2 aims to strengthen individual creative civil society organisations’ capacities in areas such as digital skills, production, marketing, networking and arts education. It will support innovative artistic and cultural creations from artists and cultural practitioners, creative civil society organisations and private operators in the cultural and creative industries.
The EU Delegation to Zimbabwe has funded arts and culture projects in Zimbabwe through the Culture Fund since 2012 under projects such as Culture Impacts and CreativeACTIONs 1. The latter benefitted from a €500,000 EU grant. Under this project, Culture Fund sub-granted 21 projects across Zimbabwe.
The grants will be awarded under two lots; Lot 1 (larger grants) will have a minimum of USD11,000.00 and a maximum amount of USD60,000.00, while Lot 2 (smaller grants) will give a minimum of USD1,000.00 and a maximum amount of USD10,000.00.
Kwedu Classics
Your story our story