Open call: Swiss Arts and Culture Fund

The fund offers an excellent opportunity to support the growth and development of Zimbabwe's creative economy.

Interested artists should apply here before 31 December 2024.

The Swiss Arts and Culture Fund focuses on:

• Promoting creative expression and innovation across Zimbabwe’s rich cultural spectrum.
• Creating opportunities for creatives to reach broader audiences, locally and internationally.
• Supporting sustainable artistic careers while fostering community engagement.

The fund represents Switzerland’s dedication to fostering cultural diversity and artistic talent in Zimbabwe. It is open to individual artists, creative entrepreneurs, cultural organisations, and practitioners across Zimbabwe. Special emphasis is placed on supporting youth, women, and marginalised groups.

Stimulus Africa, renowned for its expertise in enterprise development, will manage the grant application and disbursement process.

“This initiative goes beyond financial assistance; it’s about empowering creatives to define and contribute to Zimbabwe’s cultural legacy,” Stimulus Africa executive director Rudo Nyangulu-Mungofa said. “We are excited to play a pivotal role in supporting Zimbabwe’s arts and culture sector through the administration of this fund.”

Eligibility

The fund is open to:

• Individual artists and cultural practitioners.
• Arts managers, creative hubs, and cultural organisations.
• Creative spaces and enterprises, particularly from marginalised communities.

Application process

Eligible applicants should submit an application. Before applying, applicants are encouraged to prepare and have to hand the following:

• A detailed project proposal (max. 4 pages).
• A budget breakdown (Excel format).
• Resumes or CVs of individuals or key team members (if applicable).
• Examples of previous work (e.g., portfolios, videos, links).

Grant categories

• Small grants: Up to $1 000 (individual creatives).
• Medium grants: $1000 to $5 000 (individuals or collectives).
• Large grants: $5 000 to $10 000 (arts and cultural organisations).
• Project Duration: Projects that are funded typically run from 1 to 6 months.

Funding cycles

The fund offers two cycles annually in April and October, running through to 2028. Announcements will be made on the Stimulus Africa and Embassy of Switzerland websites and social media platforms ahead of the opening of each call.

For inquiries, please contact Stimulus Africa as follows: +263777 887112 and impact@stimulusafrica.com.

View the original call here.