The programme seeks to build on previous open calls related to mobility, exchange and art. Launched on 26 July, the call supports organisations and individuals in SSA and the UK to develop new ways of working internationally and allowing cultural exchange to flourish despite restrictions on global movement. The emphasis will be on collaborating virtually to research or deliver digital arts projects with a partner based in the target countries and the UK.

Individuals and organisations in participating countries (see eligibility criteria below) can apply for grants in three categories:

Research (grants up to £5 000)

Grants to undertake research between SSA and UK arts and creative sectors. Research may take the form of meeting with potential arts partners, finding out more about the arts ecosystem in a particular country, gaining an understanding of artistic trends, meeting artists and/or attending events and festivals. Applicants should share research outcomes in a public format of their choice – for example, a diary, blog, photoblog, an event, or a film.

New Connections (grants between £5 000 and £10 000)

Grants to support new or early-stage collaborations between artists, arts professionals and partners in SSA and the UK. Projects can include research and development but must include at least one public event, online and/or in-person (in line with COVID-19 regulations in country). Applications from organisations or individuals who have little or no experience of working internationally and are establishing new connections are particularly welcome.

New Art Co-Creation (grants between £20 000 and £30 000)

Grants to support larger-scale collaborative projects by individuals or organisations in SSA and the UK. Projects should result in new art being created and shared with audiences online or face-to-face. Applicants should already have established working relationships with their partners and a track record of delivering collaborative projects. Projects must include public-facing activities in the eligible countries.

Eligibility

The call for applications is open to artists, arts organisations, festivals, arts professionals and creative sector researchers working across all art forms including music, architecture, design & fashion, film, literature, visual art, theatre and dance with audiences predominantly from 18 to 35 years. Applications may only be made in the eligible countries (below). There is no preference whether the lead partner that applies is in sub-Saharan Africa or the UK. Partner organisations are seen as mutual applicants.

The grant will be paid to one organisation. However, to ensure equitable distribution of funds between partner organisations, the budget should ensure a split of about 50%/50% of the grant award between two partner organisations, or no more than 60%/40%. Projects working primarily with women, LBGTQ+ and/or disabled artists will be favourably scored under the diversity section of the application.

Eligible countries

• Research: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• New Connections: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• New Art Co-Creation: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan and the UK.

NOTE: Both the New Connections and New Art Co-Creation require having one sub-Saharan Africa and one UK partner.

The submission deadlines for each category are as follows:

• New Connections: 8 September.
• Collaborative Artmaking: 8 September.
• Research: Rolling application until 1 February.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview at the end of September. Successful applicants will be contacted by the end of October and all applicants will be notified of their application status in November.

“We have always supported international collaboration through our work in arts and culture, but as travel becomes more challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic and with ongoing questions about the sustainability of international travel in the light of the climate crisis, we’re now looking to facilitate that collaboration digitally,” the British Council said. “We will prioritise projects which contribute to new narratives between countries of SSA and the UK. By this we mean projects that highlight/amplify less heard stories and perspectives of SSA in the UK and the UK in SSA.”

View the original call here.

The selected designers and brands are offered personalized assistance, coaching advisory services for the development of their company by a dedicated team of professionals and industry experts, in the main areas of expertise required for a young creative company: brand identity, offer, distribution, production, image and communication, budget and financing. The objective: nurture talent and accelerate the growth of African designers through capacity-building.

ADMISSION CONDITIONSMORELESS

• A label with African roots and heritage that has existed for at least 3 seasons
• An annual sales figure of over USD 50,000 excluding tax and a positive result
• An early reputation established with influencers and tangible activity on social media
• If possible, having already established a team, tandem with a designer and another person in charge of sales, management…
• Creative talent and drive to move forward

AUDIENCE

Young designers and creative entrepreneurs established in Africa or coming from the diaspora, in the sectors of women’s and men’s fashion, accessories, shoes/sneakers, leather goods, jewelry, etc. requiring training and coaching to professionalize their brand, with the vision of a future international expansion.

Benefits

Formalization of the project’s fundamentals (which are often intuitive), an in-depth study of these fundamentals to put them into perspective and better anticipate future stages of development. Benefits that are tailored to the profiles and skills associated with the labels:

The definition of the project and of its positioning, the structuring of collections, retail strategy, communication policy, financial monitoring.
Collection building, distribution, communication, financial resources and teams.
To set up operational working tools such as collection planning, general sales conditions, treasury framework, communication framework.
To step back in order to gain perspective in relation to day-to-day pace and exchange with other designers/labels going through similar situations.
Elevation of international standards and strengthening of technical and operational competences through luxury and fashion experts mentoring.
Exposure to the international creative scene (supporting applications to prestigious and strategic prizes and collaboration opportunities).
A potential lead-in to preparing business plans/financing arrangements.
Potential investment from Birimian.

Program

This accelerator program is a hybrid format blending both an online & physical presence. It is built on a synergy between training/exchange based group sessions and individual tailored coaching sessions.
The program lasts 10 months starting from the end of September 2021 to June 2022.

To kick-off the program:
a Parisian physical immersive experience (± 10 days).
Brand Diagnosis
A 360-degree brand assessment by a pool of experts, to identify the participants’ strengths, weaknesses and needs which will serve as an action plan for the rest of the program. This diagnosis will lead to a tailor-made coaching and mentorship program performed by a college of industry experts with a proven international track record.
Classes and group workshops focusing on branding, communication, digital strategy, production, distribution…During each of these topical sessions we invite a professional expert who comes to share his/her experience in developing young creative labels:
managing directors of young creative brands, press offices, members of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, ready-to-wear couture and fashion designers, digital agencies, representatives of financing organizations…Key exclusive visits

The objective is to immerse designers in the culture of the international fashion and creative scene through the prism of the world’s premier fashion capital.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa

Eligibility

SAMPRA members and professionals who require money for initiatives and/or events that are compatible with SAMPRA’s vision and strategic objectives may apply to the SAMPRA Development Fund.

• Music awards.
• Music workshops.
• Musicals.
• All South African recording artists, record companies, industry bodies, allied industries, academic institutions, government organisations, exhibitors, and event and production companies whose projects and events are aligned with SAMPRA’s vision and strategic objectives.
• All applicants must submit a detailed business plan, sponsorship proposal detailing clearly SAMPRA’s return on investment, profiles of directors where applicable, and a portfolio of previous events hosted by the entity or individual.

Application

Applications can only be made during the open window, as determined and announced by the fund annually. The project may not have started before the deadline of submission of applications. The board of the fund will decide on the granting of the applications within three months following the last day of submission of applications. The decision of the board of the fund on an application shall be final and not reviewable or appealable.

The application deadline is 31 August.

Budget

The maximum amount an applicant can be awarded by the fund is:

• R50 000 inclusive of VAT for music workshops or similar.
• R70 000 inclusive of VAT for musicals or similar.
• R700 000 inclusive of VAT for music awards or similar.

The fund shall not finance more than 50% of the project or event’s total budget. Applications must relate only to costs that constitute the overall budget presented for the envisaged project or event.

Other sources of funding

The applicant is required to disclose in the application other sources of funding secured for the project, or hopes to secure for the project.

Application procedures:

• The application form must be completed in full and in English.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The applicant may be requested to provide supplementary documentation and information from time to time for processing the application.
• Failure to provide such information within a reasonable time frame may deem the application unsuccessful without further notice.
• The application form and all information submitted by the applicant will be retained for record and audit purposes and will not be returned to the applicant.
• Applications received after the closing date for applications will not be considered.

NOTE: No application fee is payable.

Vetting procedures

Upon receipt of an application, the fund will conduct a preliminary screening and may seek clarification or supplementary information from the project applicant. Failure to provide such information within a reasonable time frame will deem the application to be unsuccessful without further notice. The project applicant may be required to attend assessment panel meetings to present their applications and answer questions.

Assessment criteria

The board shall select grant recipients based on the individual merits of each application.

The board reserves the right to reject an application on grounds, including, but not limited:

• Applications that are incomplete or contain incorrect information or fail to comply with the requirements set out in these rules.
• A petition is presented, or a proceeding is commenced, or an order is made, or a resolution is passed for the winding up, or bankruptcy of the project applicant.
• A false, inaccurate or incomplete statement or representation is contained in the application or a promise of performance is made knowingly or recklessly that it will not be able to fulfil or deliver such promise or performance.
• The project applicant is in default of its obligation(s) under other project agreements with the fund.

Project agreement

If an application is approved, a letter of approval will be sent to the applicant. The letter of approval will set out the amount of funding support to be offered, as well as the terms and conditions applicable to the funding. The successful applicant will be required to sign and return the acceptance of the offer attached in the letter of approval to the fund within the period specified therein (offer period). The fund shall be deemed to have withdrawn the offer to make the proposed funding support to a successful applicant if the fund does not receive the duly signed acceptance of offer on or before the expiry of the offer period, as set out in the letter of approval.

Disbursement of approved funding support

• The first instalment will only be effected after the project agreement has been duly signed and the project applicant has submitted all the required documents.
• The approved funding support will be disbursed by instalments on satisfactory performance of appropriate milestones, and strictly in accordance with the terms and conditions as set out in the project agreement.
• The fund’s board reserves the right to withhold any further payment to the project if some money cannot be accounted for, or if there is any delay in submission of the completion report or the completion report does not comply with the fund’s requirements.

Finished product

The beneficiary shall provide progress reports to the fund and complete the project within the timelines stated in the application for funding.

Publicity and acknowledgment

• The project applicant shall acknowledge the funding support from the fund and SAMPRA in all its publicity/media events as well as in publications (including but not limited to press releases, promotional literature, websites, etc.) issued to promote the project.
• Successful applicants shall be required to include the SAMPRA and fund logos in all music productions created with financial support from the fund. The logos are available upon request at info@samprafund.co.za. However, SAMPRA and the fund reserve the right to require the project applicant to immediately cease and desist from using any promotional materials in which any reference to SAMPRA and the fund is found. The following disclaimer must also be included in any publications and media events related to the funded project – SAMPRA and the SAMPRA Development Fund provide funding support to the project only, and do not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of SAMPRA and/or the SAMPRA Development Fund.
• The project applicant shall provide the fund with details of the project achievements, including successful marketing and commercialisation of the project deliverables and awards.
• The fund and SAMPRA shall be entitled to provide the name of the applicant(s), a description of the project, and the value of the funding that has been provided in their publicity and reports. Such forms of publicity will include www.samprafund.co.za and www.sampra.org.za as well as any of the SAMPRA Group magazines.

Read more here.

The programme is a cultural and artistic response to environmental change. The year-long mentorship and interdisciplinary initiative seeks to create space for artists and cultural practitioners to explore critical artistic practices on the intersection of arts and environmentalism.

The mentorship brings together 12 emerging artists and cultural practitioners (plus or minus eight to 15 years of relevant professional experience) with four mentors, all working across a range of disciplines and environmental issues. The 12 individuals will each develop a body of work, form a peer group, and throughout the year receive mentorship guidance, exchange ideas, collaborate and jointly delve deeper into their practices. The four mentors, all experts on the intersection of arts and the environment, will guide the participants throughout the programme.

The programme consists of two labs (weeklong mentoring intensives, one in person and one online), bimonthly online masterclass, peer group sessions, an awards ceremony and visitors programme in Amsterdam and Berlin.

Each participant will receive €6 000 (about $7 000) to work on the concept for a body of work that they outlined in their application, with an additional €4 000 being available for either a collaboration with other participants, or if their concept solidifies in the process and needs extra budget to be realised.

The mentorship programme aims to:

• Support critical and unconventional work by emerging artists working on a range of issues related to environmentalism, the climate crisis and climate justice.
• Stimulate leadership of individuals whose artistic work fosters awareness and empathy.
• Accelerate the artistic practices of artists and cultural practitioners who show a commitment to creating lasting change through environmental activism.
• Facilitate exchanges, meaningful connections and learning between engaged practitioners.
• Strengthen and amplify new perspectives on environmentalism, the climate crisis and climate justice.

How to apply

Interested applicants can apply here before 26 August.

Applicants should read the guidelines and eligibility here before applying.

Read the FAQs for more information.

“Alarming changes in nature and our environment are all around us: forests and wildlife are disappearing; air and oceans are increasingly polluted; sea levels are rising; and extreme weather phenomena are escalating; additionally the outbreak of a worldwide pandemic has been a wake-up call,” a joint statement reads. “While causes and consequences of environmental change and the climate crisis are being debated by politicians, scientists and the broader public, the most affected people are often those least heard.”

View the original call here.

This is Africa No Filter’s way of ensuring that funding, which is limited and rarely accessed by up-and-coming storytellers, reaches everyone with a compelling story to tell.

Africa No Filter supports the development of nuanced and contemporary stories that shift stereotypical and harmful narratives within and about Africa. Through research, grant-making and advocacy they aim to build the field of narrative change-makers by supporting storytellers, investing in media platforms and driving disruption campaigns.

Grant

• The total grant amount ranges from $500 – $2,000.

Eligibility

• Open to Bloggers, musicians, illustrators, graphic designers, scriptwriters, vloggers, podcasters, playwrights, photographers, documentary filmmakers, choreographers, poets, journalists, authors, producers, artists and publishers based in Africa.
• Applicants must be aged below 35 years and produce ground-breaking work and creatively challenging harmful narratives within their local and digital communities.

Application

Click here to apply

Africa No Filter encourages the creation of complex and current tales that challenge stereotyped and destructive narratives about and within Africa. By supporting storytellers, investing in media platforms, and driving disruption campaigns, they hope to grow the field of narrative change-makers through study, grant-making, and lobbying.

Grant

• Grant of up to $25,000 is available to support the selected project.

Eligibility

• Open to individual storytellers and arts, culture, and media organisations in Africa and the Diaspora.
• The grant supports theatre, comedy, literature, digital animation, film, and visual art projects by individuals and organisations.

Application

Complete application should be submitted on or before August 27, 2021. Submissions after this date will not be accepted.

Click here to apply

The competition is divided into three sections. Join our essay, infographics, and animation competition if you believe you can make a difference and want to help educate young people about the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We’re searching for content that you’ve made that informs and educates young people about the AfCFTA and its many benefits for Africa’s burgeoning youth population.

ELIGIBILITY

Contestants must;

Be a national of an African Union Member state
Submit a national ID as proof of above
Be residing permanently or temporarily on the continent or the diaspora
Be aged between 18 and 35 years
Be passionate about Africa’s development and deeper understanding of the AfCFTA
SUBMIT BY DEADLINE OF 30 SEPTEMBER, 2021 AT 23:59hrs CAT or 21:59hrs GMT
JURY

All materials submitted will be assessed by a panel of judges selected from YALDA and its partners including the Afrexim Bank, AfCFTA Secretariat, UNECA, ITC, UNDP and the private sector. The essays will be assessed against set criteria to select 3 winners in each category.

PRIZES

Click here for more information

The Awards are an authoritative voice in the photographic business that has the capacity to affect the careers of its winning and short-listed photographers. They are open to all photographers. Every year, the competition attracts both young and experienced artists, and it showcases the greatest photography from the previous 12 months to a global audience.

Competition Field

• Professional – 10 categories, judged on a body of work
• Open – 10 categories, rewarding the best single images
  ○ National Awards – Entries submitted to the Open competition are automatically entered into the National Awards based on nationality (please check if your individual country is participating).
• Youth – for all photographers aged 12-19, a single image responding to one brief
• Student Focus – for those studying photography

Eligibility: All submitted images must have been taken in 2016.

View individual eligibility, selection criteria and procedure for each competition on the Competition Webpage (Right-Hand Corner)

Benefits:

Global exposure is given to not only to the overall winners, but also to shortlisted and commended photographers.

Recognised photographers can receive:

• Exhibition at Somerset House, London
• Potential to be included in international exhibitions
• Inclusion in the annual Sony World Photography Awards book
• Potential to work with Sony and other partners on a variety of projects

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Sony World Photography Awards 2022

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award honors the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Founding President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, for his pioneering efforts to promote national unity and progress. It’s an autonomous cultural initiative run by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism.

Categories

• Arabic Culture in Other Languages: Recognizes written works produced in languages other than the Arabic, tackling the Arab civilization and culture, including humanities, fine arts, literature (novels, short stories, poems) and history.
• Children’s Literature: Covers literary, scientific and cultural books addressing various children’s groups and adolescents, whether it is fictional stories or simplified factual historical and scientific narratives, put in an artistic layout.
• Contribution to the Development of Nations: Consists of books in the fields of economics, sociology, management, politics, law and theology that contribute to a nation’s advancement, whether theoretic review or documenting practice.
• Cultural Personality of the Year: Honors a prominent Arab or international figure (or organization) who has contributed to the advancement of the Arabic culture, embodies through his/her work tolerance and promotes peaceful coexistence.
• Literary and Art Criticism: Covers works of criticism in the fields of art, cinema, music, theatrical plays, studies of image, architecture, sculpture, historical ruins, folkloric arts, and history of literature and theories.
• Literature: Represents works across various categories of literature including poetry, short stories, novels, biographies, theatrical plays and other types of arts.
• Publishing and Technology: Includes publishers, distributors, research institutions and cultural institutions, which promote culture through various forms of digital, visual and audio processes.
• Young Author: Recognizes works in science, literature, culture, fine arts and humanities, in addition to scientific theses that are published, produced by authors younger than 40 years.

Prize

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award comprises a total monetary prize value of seven million UAE dirhams, presented as follows:

• The “Cultural Personality of the Year” winner receives a prize of one million UAE dirhams.
• 750,000 UAE dirhams granted to the winner in each of the Award’s eight categories.
• A gold medal bearing the Sheikh Zayed Book Award logo as well as a certificate of merit for winners across the Award’s nine categories.

Eligibility

• Open to authors, publishers, and translators of any nationality.
• The candidate must have contributed to the development of thought and creativity in Arab culture, whether it is from creators, thinkers or publishers, and that the candidate works achieve a high degree of originality and innovation, and represent a true addition to human culture and knowledge.
• The candidate has the right to apply for only one of the award’s categories.
• The book does not have the right to nominate another prize in person or by proxy in the same year.
• The nominated literature must be in Arabic.
• The intellectual and creative product be published in the form of a “paper book”.
• The book has been published, and it has not been more than two years since it was published.
• In the event that there is a participant in the work, “a painter or co-author” it must be included in the nomination form and attach his data.
• The work submitted must contain international numbering (ISBN, TDMC, ISBN) to ensure property rights.
• The prize is not awarded for work previously won by a major Arab or foreign award.

Application

Applicants can submit their entries in only one category of the competition.

Click here to apply

The Environmental Photographer of the Year competition, now in its 14th year, recognizes the most inspiring environmental photography from around the world. The award honors humanity’s ability to adapt and endure, and it features thought-provoking visuals that highlight our influence and motivate us to live more sustainably.

Categories

• Environmental Photographer of the Year
• Young Environmental Photographer of the Year
• Environments of the Future
• Sustainable Cities
• Climate Action
• Water and Security
• The Resilient Award
• People’s Choice

Prizes

• Environmental Photographer of the Year: The top award will be granted to a single image that furthers people’s understanding of the causes and effects of environmental change and social inequality, highlights solutions to the climate and ecological emergency, and inspires us to live sustainably.
  The winning photographer will receive:
  • £10,000 cash prize and award certificate;
  • A spread and interview in CIWEM’s The Environment magazine;
  • A profile on the WaterBear platform;
  • Feature on Nikon Europe’s website & more
• Young Environmental Photographer of the Year: In partnership with Nikon, this award showcases the best in environmental photography through the lens of young photographers aged 21 and under.
  The winning photographer will receive:
  • Nikon Z Camera + 3 Nikon lenses
  • An interview in CIWEM’s Environment Magazine
  • A profile on the WaterBear platform
  • Feature on Nikon Europe’s website & more

Eligibility

• Anyone born on or after July 31, 2000 can apply. For entrants under 18 parental permission must be received from the parent or guardian of the photographer. Proof of age may be required once submission has been made.
• Each entrant may enter up to ten (10) still photographs.
• All photographs entered must have been completed since January 1, 2018.
• Entries must be submitted as digital files only. For initial entry, all still photography images must be submitted as JPEGs, saved at a high quality level, with a maximum file size of 199MB.
• If shortlisted, entrants must be able to supply images as RAW files or original JPEGs.

Application

The competition is free to enter for all ages. Entries close on August 14, 2021 and winners will be announced at COP26 in November 2021.

Click here to apply