Call for applications: Fondazione cultural entrepreneurship programme

The online module spread over 11 weeks, from September to December 2023, will provide 20 young entrepreneurs in the cultural sector with the training and support they need to advance in five important cluster topics:

• Business modelling and planning for the cultural and creative sector.

• Fundraising and sponsorship.

• Start-up counselling.

• Sustainability and community involvement in the creative and culture sector.

• Marketing and communication strategies.

Once the conditions for the continuation of the programme have been favourably evaluated, 10 participants will be selected to carry out in-presence on-field activities in Italy and/or Africa in 2024. These activities will be aimed at introducing the young entrepreneurs to leading experts, companies and entities in the cultural and creative sector. At the end of this second module, they will be asked to apply their newly acquired knowledge to their project and make a final presentation. The three most outstanding applicants will receive a seed grant to invest in their project.

Each topic will be covered in a two-week period according to the following schedule:

1. Webinar (2 hrs)
   Webinar of about two hours (including Q&A) in which two international experts will give a lecture on the topic.

2. First round table (1.5 hrs)
   Live workshop, led by international experts, in which the theoretical notions of the webinar will be applied to a case study. At the end of this, the lecturer will give further assignments to the participants to be developed at home and presented during the following round table.

3. Second round table (1.5 hrs)
   Live workshop, led by international experts, in which participants will be asked to present the results of the assignment. This will be followed by further discussion.

Who should apply?

The programme is designed for 20 creative business minds, citizens or residents of Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe, who have few years of experience as cultural entrepreneurs; are inspiring and creative; are innovators and risk takers in the cultural heritage and creative industries in their country; and are dedicated to transforming and contributing to the sustainability of the creative and cultural sector.

Eligibility criteria general requirements:

• Beneficiaries must be aged between 24 and 35.

• Beneficiaries must be citizens or residents of one of the following countries: Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, or Zimbabwe.

• Beneficiaries must be fluent in English.

• Beneficiaries must be IT literate, own a device with a webcam and have reliable access to the Internet.

• Beneficiaries must be able to commit to the full training and subsequent follow-up and on-field activities.

• Beneficiaries must be able to travel abroad (hold a valid passport and an active bank account). If selected, proof of documentation will be requested.

Specific requirements

• Beneficiaries must be young entrepreneurs in the cultural sector with an ongoing entrepreneurial project focused on one of the following subjects: music, art and design, museology, archaeology, architecture, fashion, cinema or sustainable tourism.

• Beneficiaries must operate a business in the cultural sector that has existed for at least six months or have a clear project plan.

• Having a bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant discipline will be considered an asset.

The programme

The working language will be English and the course will be entirely free of charge. The outline of the programme focuses on role that culture and cultural heritage play as an engine for local and regional development by putting an accent on employment, social inclusion, and entrepreneurship in the cultural sector in line with the main objective of the ICCROM Youth Heritage Africa programme and on the strengthening of the skills of Italian and foreign professional and the internationalisation of Italian cultural institutions in line with the objectives of the Fondazione.

Interested applicants should apply here before 10 July. Visit here for more information.

View the original call here.