End of Sound Connects Fund a new beginning for Southern Africa’s CCIs

Thirty-six eligible organisations were awarded grants ranging from €35 000 to €180 000, made possible with funding from the ACP-EU Culture Programme, a project implemented by the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and funded by the European Union (EU).

The funding enabled the execution of projects and activities that facilitated the rapid production and distribution of high-quality goods. It empowered creators from underrepresented groups, upskilled creative and cultural practitioners, supported mobility and exchange among creators, enhanced access to new markets and developed visual literacy.

Beyond funding the 36 organisations to action projects that benefitted their chosen target groups, the grantees were upskilled within the SCF programme through annual networking events and the Sound Connects Academy – a learning platform that was developed to facilitate sessions on a series of industry-related subjects.

It was at the final networking event in early 2024 that the project crescendoed with the notable Sound Connects Conference hosted in Maputo, Mozambique. Like-minded creative and cultural professionals gathered for a programme that involved engaging panel discussions, meaningful networking, and opportunities to learn about the funded projects.

This milestone event was inspiring, with positive feedback received from the delegates.

“The Sound Connects Fund has reached the finish line, leaving behind it a trail of upskilled creative professionals, award-winning projects, new cultural products, African educational content for children, and fresh industry course material across multiple disciplines. We are proud and excited with the great results achieved over the past three years,” Music In Africa Foundation executive director Eddie Hatitye said.

The network that emerged from the SCF is perhaps its most sustainable outcome. In time, this network of professionals should yield continued development of the cultural and creative industries in Southern Africa. It is also hoped that the SCF’s advocacy efforts will result in an increased investment from local governments and cultural stakeholders.

Carolin Christgau, head of culture and development at Goethe-Institut South Africa, emphasised the impact of the project: “The Sound Connects Fund was definitely one-of-a-kind for Goethe-Institut. The project was able to give valuable support to cultural organisations, which have greatly impacted many creatives. We hope that these organisations will continue thriving in their countries and benefit from the networks and partnerships that they established during the course of the SCF.”

To conclude the project, the Music In Africa Foundation and Goethe-Institut have published two research reports that were commissioned as part of the Sound Connects Fund, to provide new insights into the CCIs in the nine target countries.

Read the reports via the Sound Connects Fund website.