Zim: Culture Fund announces second CreativeACTIONs beneficiaries

The grants, which are worth $748 588, were awarded to 42 projects by Zimbabwean artists as part of the first round of the CreativeACTIONs. These projects, which cover all 10 provinces in Zimbabwe, are designed to promote culture as a goal and 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 and Murehwa, among others. The projects will also empower creatives (especially women and youth) from Hwange, Binga, Tsholotsho, Lupane, Masvingo, Murehwa, Harare and Bulawayo on digital technologies, intellectual property rights, accessing new markets and professionalising 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.

“As the European Union, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering Zimbabwean creativity,” EU ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann said. “The projects will not only entertain but create jobs, raise awareness, promote tolerance and preserve Zimbabwean art and culture.”

Culture Fund director Farai Mpfunya said: “We are delighted to share that the project received a remarkable response during the first Grant cycle, with 248 highly competitive proposals submitted.”

Below are the grant beneficiaries:

1. Advancing Creative Capabilities, Entrepreneurship and Leadership (ACCEL ZW)
2. Zimbabwe Fashion Week (ZFW) 2023
3. Vana Vanotamba TV programme
4. Women At Crossroads: Next Chapter
5. Intellectual Property Rights in The Cultural and Creative Industries
6. National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA)
7. Phenomenal Festival of Lights
8. The Shoko Pipeline
9. Celebrating Deaf Culture: A Theatrical Journey of Inclusion and Empowerment
10. Amplifying Deaf Performances Through Trained Interpreters
11. Literature Performance Based Workshops
12. Bulawayo Arts Awards Elevation
13. Vic Falls Multi-Cultural Remote Arts Incubation Centre
14. San Community Organized Rebirth Events
15. Binga Craft Centre (BCC) Revamp Programme
16. Transformative Capacity Building of Matabeleland North Creatives
17. Art For Empowerment
18. Munwahuku Sculpture and Outreach Research Project
19. Elevate 1
20. Learners Mentorship & Training
21. Visual Expressions of Matobo Youth Voices
22. Manicaland Attached Instruments and Dance Exploration
23. Arts And Culture in Action
24. Spotlighting And Formalization of Rural Creatives Towards a Sustainable Arts Industry in Shamva
25. Rethinking Arts in Pandemics (Drug and Substance Abuse)
26. Matamba Immersive New Media Content Development and Showcase
27. Participate In the MYSTERY 45_Atelier Elefsina
28. Constitution Culture Musical
29. The Hudson Road Trip
30. Kwantuthu Comedy Festival
31. Bulawayo Intellectual Property (IP) School Clubs
32. Bulawayo Art Fair – Outreach – Symposium
33. Danica Studios
34. The Marimba Songs Transcription and Distribution Initiative
35. Mukoma Nthume Aka Mundau
36. Granite sculpting
37. Culture Meets ICT
38. One Man Exhibition Empowerment Proposal (OMEEP)
39. Engaging Men and Boys in Promoting and Preserving Cultural Entrepreneurship
40. Grooming and educating young marginalised rural talents
41. Ziya and Community Development Plan
42. Roots Arts Academy