Zimbabwe Europe

USD 280,494 AWARDED TO 20 NEW PROJECTS AS CREATIVEACTIONS 2 CONTINUES TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN ZIMBABWE’S ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR

BRUSSELS, 10 September 2024 / PRN Africa / -- The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust and the European Union (EU) Delegation to Zimbabwe are proud to announce the awarding of grants totalling USD 280,494 to 20 innovative arts and culture projects across the country. These grants, ranging from USD 1,556 to USD 30,930, continue to empower creatives from diverse regions, including Bulawayo, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Midlands, Mashonaland East, Harare, Manicaland, Matabeleland South, and Masvingo. Recognising the project’s success thus far, H.E. the EU ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann said, "Zimbabwe’s creative sector is key to bringing people together and driving economic growth. With CreativeACTIONs II, we are excited to see how artists and cultural practitioners are making a difference. These projects not only celebrate Zimbabwe’s rich cultural diversity but also empower individuals and communities to thrive in the global creative economy."

Among the latest recipients are projects dedicated to promoting Sign Language as an official language through innovative content creation, empowering women to enhance their livelihoods through beadwork, and supporting Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in advocacy, music training, and recording. The Culture Fund remains committed to fostering the growth of Zimbabwe’s creative economy by engaging emerging, mid-career, and established creatives and cultural operators. The funding is strategically directed towards organizations, institutions, events, and festivals that expand opportunities within the arts and culture sector.

Since the inception of CreativeACTIONs II in 2023, a total of 74 projects have been supported, with an investment of USD 1,140,270. This investment addresses critical capacity gaps, fosters innovation, supports advocacy, and facilitates the mobility of artists, cultural goods, and services, enabling them to access new markets and reach broader audiences.

The impact of these supported projects is already being felt across Zimbabwe. The Binga Craft Centre, for example, conducted skills training in quality control for craft products, successfully opening new export markets in Spain and Australia. CHIPAWO, an organization dedicated to children's arts and education, trained young people from three provinces in video recording and presenting skills, resulting in 13 episodes broadcast on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Television (ZBC TV). Zimbabwe Fashion Week, through a partnership with Chinhoyi University of Technology, became a member of the the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network, mentoring 10 fashion design graduates through the Creative Accelerator Programme.

CreativeACTIONs II is also supporting education projects like the Centre for Talent Development (CTD), Rawstone Galleries, and TIME Entertainment Promotions. These organizations have trained 37 schools across Binga, Lupane, Hwange, Bulawayo, and Gwanda in performance-based literature, stone carving, drama, playwriting, poetry, visual arts, and music. Zimbabwe Deaf Media has produced African folktales in Sign Language, enriching the learning experience for hearing-impaired students. Matamba Film Labs has pioneered new innovations in virtual reality, collaborating with regional organizations like YC-Films in Mozambique to celebrate and promote African experiences through contemporary storytelling and gaming.

Furthermore, CreativeACTIONs II has facilitated international cultural exchanges of Zimbabwean creators and EU Member States such as Portugal, Germany, and Greece. Artists supported through mobility grants have participated in festival management training and showcased Zimbabwean fashion and fabrics to the diaspora market, bolstering Zimbabwe's representation on the global stage.

The Culture Fund and the EU recognize the vital role that the arts and culture sector plays in nation-building, advocacy, and policy development. Through CreativeACTIONs II, they continue to strengthen creative civil society institutions and independent artists, enhancing artistic expressions and transforming livelihoods. This ongoing support enriches youth empowerment, addresses gender disparities, prioritizes the inclusion of people with disabilities, and facilitates the mobility of artists and cultural goods to access new markets and broader audiences.

Copyright European Union, 1995-2024

SOURCE European External Action