The Goethe-Institut and the MIAF have produced two reports as part of the Sound Connects Fund (SCF) programme. The first, Projects & Learnings focusing on the work and good practices observed during implementation, and the second report, CCI Report 2024 that has a specific focus on cultural policies, legal and regulatory frameworks and their impact within the SADC region. The reports can be downloaded below.
Sound Connects Fund
ACP-EU Culture Programme – Southern Africa
Number of grant calls
3
Eligible countries
9
Funded organisations
36
Duration (months)
40
SUPPORTING CREATIVES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA!
The Sound Connects Fund was a multifaceted initiative that aimed to accelerate development and increase the capacity of the cultural and creative sectors in Southern Africa. It did so by offering financial support in the form of different sized grants and comprehensive capacity-building programmes to eligible creative and cultural industry organisations based in Angola, Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The 36 projects implemented through the fund were active in the performing arts, animation, film, gaming, photography, videography and visual arts sectors. You can see the full list of funded projects here.
The Sound Connects Fund supported projects and activities facilitating the rapid production and distribution of high-quality goods within and outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, increasing capacities among professionals, supporting rapid mobility and exchange among creators, enhancing access to new markets, developing visual literacy (especially among underrepresented groups), promoting advocacy aimed at protecting the interests of creators, and supporting the existence of sustainable financing structures.
The Sound Connects Fund was 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). No further grants are currently available under the Sound Connects Fund.
Music connects us
It is clear that in southern Africa’s vibrant cultural sector, music is a significant force that connects and coexists within a wide range of art forms, in some instances playing a central role in fields such as dance, theatre, video, gaming, film, fashion and related industries. Proposals for grants will therefore be challenged to look at sound not only in relation to music but also in related sectors such as sound in videogames and animation films, sound in audio-visual arts, sound as a supporting aspect of the fashion industry (e.g. fashion shows) and sound in the digital creative sector.
JURY
IMPLEMENTED BY
FUNDED BY
CO-FUNDED BY
