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: Goethe-Institut International Coproduction Fund

24 Feb 2026 - 08:39

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The Goethe-Institut has issued a call for applications for its International Coproduction Fund, which supports collaborative projects in music, theatre, dance and performance.

The application deadline is 1 April 2026. Photo: Divadlo Štúdio tanca and Martin Dubovský

The deadline for applications is 1 April 2026.

The fund provides financial support for projects that demonstrate international cultural exchange and genuine artistic collaboration between partners based outside Germany and those working within Germany.

Overview

The International Coproduction Fund is designed to promote:

  • Professional artistic development
  • Intercultural collaboration
  • Experimental and interdisciplinary work
  • Public engagement across borders

Projects must show:

  • Strong artistic quality
  • Clear collaborative intent between international partners
  • Tangible public impact

The programme particularly supports innovative and interdisciplinary formats in the performing arts, including hybrid and digital approaches.

Funding details

  • Grant amount: €15 000 (about $17 700) to €30 000
  • Maximum contribution: Up to 75% of total project costs
  • Eligible costs: Artist fees, travel, production and related project expenses
  • Project duration: Maximum 15 months from the official funding start date

The fund does not support:

  • Commercial projects
  • Commissioned works
  • Tours or guest performances
  • Residencies
  • Music recordings
  • Film or exhibition projects without performative elements
  • Ongoing operational costs

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must:

  • Be professionally active artists, ensembles or institutions based outside Germany (excluding Austria and Switzerland)
  • Work in close collaboration with German-based artists, ensembles or initiatives
  • Demonstrate balanced creative and financial partnerships
  • Ensure at least one public performance outside Germany (an additional performance in Germany is encouraged)

Applications from developing and transition countries are particularly encouraged.

Both individual artists and legal entities may apply. Nationality is not restricted. The fund supports new productions as well as the further development of existing works, provided they are collaborative and artistically driven.

Application process

Applicants are required to:

  • Consult the relevant Goethe-Institut office before submission
  • Prepare a project description, artistic plan, detailed budget and collaboration outline
  • Submit the application in English via the Goethe-Institut’s online portal

There are two fixed application periods annually. Projects must not begin before approval unless written permission has been granted. The assessment process takes approximately three months.

Successful applicants must provide:

  • Financial documentation after project completion
  • A five-minute film documenting the project (supported by an additional lump sum)

Compliance considerations

Applicants are advised to avoid:

  • Starting projects prior to funding approval without formal consent
  • Submitting incomplete or late applications
  • Proposing projects without a confirmed German partner
  • Requesting more than 75% of the total project budget
  • Failing to meet reporting and documentation requirements

The International Coproduction Fund forms part of the Goethe-Institut’s broader efforts to support international artistic exchange and strengthen cross-border cultural networks through performance-based work.

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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