By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe - In a significant boost to the country's arts and culture sector, the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust and the European Union (EU) Delegation to Zimbabwe have awarded grants totaling USD 280,494 to 20 innovative projects across Zimbabwe.
The funding, which ranges from USD 1,556 to USD 30,930, will support a diverse range of projects that empower creatives from various regions, including Bulawayo, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Midlands, Mashonaland East, Harare, Manicaland, Matabeleland South, and Masvingo.
Among the recipients are projects promoting Sign Language as an official language through innovative content creation, empowering women to enhance their livelihoods through beadwork, and supporting Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in advocacy, music training, and recording.
The funding will also support education projects, such as the Centre for Talent Development, Rawstone Galleries, and TIME Entertainment Promotions, which have trained schools across Binga, Lupane, Hwange, Bulawayo, and Gwanda in performance-based literature, stone carving, drama, playwriting, poetry, visual arts, and music.
H.E. the EU Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann praised the project's success, saying, "Zimbabwe's creative sector is key to bringing people together and driving economic growth. With CreativeACTIONs 2, we are excited to see how artists and cultural practitioners are making a difference. These projects not only celebrate Zimbabwe's rich cultural diversity but also empower individuals and communities to thrive in the global creative economy."
Since the inception of CreativeACTIONs 2 in 2023, a total of 74 projects have been supported, with an investment of USD 1,140,270. The funding has addressed critical capacity gaps, fostered innovation, supported advocacy, and facilitated the mobility of artists, cultural goods, and services, enabling them to access new markets and reach broader audiences.
Success stories include the Binga Craft Centre, which conducted skills training in quality control for craft products, successfully opening new export markets in Spain and Australia. CHIPAWO, an organization dedicated to children's arts and education, trained young people from three provinces in video recording and presenting skills, resulting in 13 episodes broadcast on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Television (ZBC TV).
Through CreativeACTIONs 2, the Culture Fund and the EU are committed to strengthening creative civil society institutions and independent artists, enhancing artistic expressions and transforming livelihoods. This ongoing support enriches youth empowerment, addresses gender disparities, prioritizes the inclusion of people with disabilities, and facilitates the mobility of artists and cultural goods to access new markets and broader audiences.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT BENEFITED:
