NEFCISA
NEFCISA

The Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) is proud of its partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) as a Strategic Implementing Partner (SIP) for its Social Employment Fund (SEF). Through this collaboration, MIAF is running a national programme that is creating jobs, addressing skills gaps, and strengthening South Africa's creative industries — in line with the SEF's overarching goal to generate work for the common good and build community value through employment, social contribution, and inclusive economic participation. Operating under the banner NEFCISA (National Employment Facility for Creative Industries in South Africa), the initiative is recruiting and training participants, matching them with host organisations, and has already placed 1 500 workers across the country — surpassing its original target of 1 000. NEFCISA is delivered through a network of 20 host organisations spanning five provinces, who are actively hosting participants and contributing to work for the common good across South Africa's creative and cultural industries. Key Objectives: Support employment and entrepreneurship in the creative industries. Offer skills development and training programmes. Foster partnerships between public and private creative sectors. Promote South African creativity at both provincial and national levels Foster community development through social contribution.

ACCES
ACCES

ACCES Conference and Showcase Festival is Africa's leading music industry gathering, bringing together the people shaping the future of the continent's music business. Artists, entrepreneurs, executives, investors, policymakers and cultural leaders from across Africa and around the world come to ACCES to build partnerships, exchange ideas, discover talent and create new business opportunities. Since its launch in 2017, ACCES has become the continent's premier platform for professional exchange and music market development. Combining a high-level conference with a curated showcase festival, networking, exhibitions and industry programmes, ACCES offers a unique space where creativity meets business and where African music connects with the global industry.

Gender@Work
Gender@Work

Music In Africa Gender @ Work is a three-year training programme aimed at upskilling and increasing the participation of female professionals in the African music sector. Launched by the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) in April 2019, the programme is connected to the MIAF’s ACCES music conference – a pan-African event held in a different African country every year. This connection enables the programme to reach new participants in a different African country every year. The programme marks the beginning of a more concerted effort by the Foundation to support the participation and inclusion of women in all facets of its programmes and the music sector in Africa as a whole. Over the three years, the programme will aim to address gender imbalances in the sector through training, lobbying, facilitating knowledge exchange and dialogues that foster the interest of women. The broader objectives of the programme are to: Provide industry training for women on critical music industry skills, focusing on: Stage management Electronic music production and recording Music business management Technical knowledge Provide an opportunity for both professional and aspiring women to benefit from the Music In Africa network and its broad range of activities in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Provide a solution-based platform in the form of a round table at ACCES with a view to identify challenges, discuss opportunities and lobby for the interests of female practitioners. Offer participants the opportunity to benefit from programmes offered by MIAF’s partners. Increase access to educational materials. Integrate participants in the broader ACCES programme to maximise experience and exposure to the industry. Record and present training materials on the www.musicinafrica.net, including but not limited to tutorials, templates and other best-practice materials. Communicate women-based themes that support the initiatives and messages of the programme. MAIN TRAINING ACTIVITIES Training in first country (Ghana): In the first year, participants will be trained on all aspects of stage management by a team of experienced stage managers from 10 to 17 November 2019. The programme will offer robust classroom training as well as practical, hands-on training in which participants will also be given the opportunity to manage various aspects of the ACCES performance programme. Training in second country: The second training iteration will take place at ACCES 2020 when the programme will diversify its course to include music production lessons and training on other music business topics. A round-table platform will also be introduced to coincide with the ACCES programme. Training in third country: The third training iteration will take place at ACCES 2021 in a different country, offering an advanced course. HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?  As a participant, facilitator or trainer: The programme enrolls up to 12 trainees every year. All opportunities are advertised publicly on this website, and will be added to this page. Please keep checking this page for new calls (below under UPDATES & CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES). As a partner Please contact Claire Metais at [email protected]. APPLY The call for applications for 2020 will be announced soon. The Music In Africa Gender @ Work programme is made possible with the support of the Prince Claus Fund, Siemens Stiftung and Goethe-Institut.

Sound Connects Fund
Sound Connects Fund

For cultural and creative practitioners and organisations operating in southern Africa, access to funding remains a major challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a massive impact on government policy, spending and the economy in general, and has seen spending on culture being moved further down the list of priorities. Further, the cultural and creative industries repeatedly cite four main areas where investment is needed for growth, which are increased visibility, mobility including access to new markets, finance and support structures.

Instrument Building And Repair Project
Instrument Building And Repair Project

Experience the Vibrations African Instruments Exhibition online in 3D

opportunities

Open call: Pro Helvetia funding for co-creation projects

30 Jan 2026 - 09:27

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Pro Helvetia has opened a call for jointly developed artistic projects that support equal co-creation between artists based in Switzerland and practitioners active in regions covered by Pro Helvetia liaison offices. The call is open to artists working across all disciplines.

The application deadline is 1 June.

Target group

Artists or cultural practitioners without a connection to Switzerland who are collaborating with a Swiss-based partner.

What is being funded

  • An artistic project in any arts discipline.

The project must be developed through equal artistic cooperation between:

  • One partner connected to Switzerland, and
  • One partner active in a region covered by a Pro Helvetia liaison office.

Who can apply

  • Two artist partners (individuals, duos or collectives).

The collaboration must have been initiated through:

  • A residency,
  • A research trip, or
  • Previous joint artistic projects.

Eligibility requirements:

  • One partner must be a Swiss citizen or permanent resident with a proven and regular artistic presence in Switzerland.
  • The other partner must be artistically active in a region covered by a Pro Helvetia liaison office.
  • At least one partner must have completed a research trip or residency in the other partner’s region, or provide references to earlier joint work.
  • Applications must be submitted jointly by both partners.
  • The co-creation process may start no earlier than 1 October and must be completed within 18 months.
  • General Pro Helvetia funding requirements also apply.

Financial contribution

  • Fee for artists
  • Travel costs for both partners
  • Costs related to the co-creation process and the planned activities
  • If travel abroad is part of the co-creation project, artists with care responsibilities can apply for financial support of up to CHF1 000 (about $13 000) for one month (per artist) as a grant towards childcare costs or the travel costs of the children and, if necessary, a caregiver.

Additional support:

Artists with care responsibilities may apply for up to CHF1 000 per month (per artist) to cover childcare costs or the travel costs of children and, where necessary, a caregiver, if travel abroad is required.

Application requirements

  • Applications must include the following documents, jointly developed by both partners:
  • Project description (maximum 4 000 characters).

Implementation plan, including:

  • Timeline.
  • Division of roles.
  • Planned activities or presentations.
  • Description of the working process.
  • Detailed budget in CHF, including any third-party funding requested or secured.
  • Additional references compiled in one PDF (CVs, video links, list of previous presentations or activities).
  • Joint declaration of intent or letter of motivation, signed by both partners.
  • All documents must be submitted in English.

Exclusion criteria

Applications will not be considered if:

  • Conceptual and organisational leadership is not shared equally.
  • More than two partners apply together.
  • The project is a tour or presentation of an existing work.
  • One or both partners are institutions or festivals.
  • One or both partners are based outside regions covered by Pro Helvetia liaison offices.

Key dates

  • Applications open: 1 January
  • Applicants should submit their applications here before 1 June.
  • Notification of decision: 1 October
  • Earliest project start date: 1 October

Decision process

Applications will be assessed in line with Pro Helvetia’s general decision-making procedures, unless otherwise specified.

Additional notes

Joint applications may be submitted by an artist, duo or collective based either in Switzerland or in a region covered by a Pro Helvetia liaison office, provided the co-creation partner is clearly identified. Approved projects are expected to be completed within 18 months of a positive funding decision.

View the original call here.

Disclaimer: Opportunities published on this platform are provided by external organisers. While we aim to share accurate and current calls, Music In Africa is not responsible for the organisation, management or delivery of any related events or programmes.

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