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The European Union, in collaboration with the Culture Fund, announced the award of grants to 42 exceptional projects by Zimbabwean artists as part of the first round of the Creative Actions II project.
These grants amount to a total funding of USD 748,588. H.E. the EU Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann expressed his excitement about awarding these grants, stating, “As the European Union, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering Zimbabwean creativity. The projects will not only entertain but create jobs, raise awareness, promote tolerance and preserve Zimbabwean art and culture.” “We are delighted to share that the project received a remarkable response during the first Grant cycle, with 248 highly competitive proposals submitted” added Mr Mpfunya Director of Culture Fund.
These 42 projects covering all ten provinces in Zimbabwe will promote culture as a goal in itself and as a powerful vector for social and economic development.
Some of the activities to be implemented include the creation of a diverse range of artistic and cultural expressions by artists in Bulawayo, Harare, Masvingo, Bindura, Chinhoyi and other areas, encompassing filmmaking, music, theatre, crafts, fashion, sculpturing, comedy and dance. Some projects will support the holding of festivals, fairs, exhibitions and awards ceremonies in Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Victoria Falls, Matobo, Murehwa and other areas. Projects will also empower creatives (especially women and youth) from Hwange, Binga, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Masvingo, Murehwa, Harare, Bulawayo, and other areas on digital technologies, intellectual property rights, accessing new markets and professionalizing their work.
Preservation and promotion of minority cultures of communities such as the San and Ndau as well as promoting accessibility to arts and cultural creations by people with disabilities will also be the focus of some of the awarded projects.
Whilst we celebrate that the awarded projects cover all provinces, the large share 42% is from 2 provinces only, Harare and Bulawayo. The projects will also support women, youth, and people with disabilities however only 31% are led by women and 34% are led by youth. To address these imbalances, the EU and the Culture Fund strongly encourage creatives from provinces with fewer grant awards, as well as women, youth, and People with disabilities, to apply for the ongoing Small Grants scheme. Furthermore, they are urged to look out for the upcoming 2nd Call for Applications for the Large Grants scheme, set to be announced before the end of the year.
Background:
The EU has committed EUR 2,060,500 over 36 months through the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust under the Creative Actions II project which began in January 2023. This substantial investment benefits artist and cultural practitioners from various disciplines, including music, dance, theatre, literary arts, and fashion.
The Creative Actions II project aligns fully with the Government of Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS-1) and contributes to its implementation by funding innovative artistic and cultural expressions, empowering civil society, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, and providing training and skills development programs for arts and culture practitioners.