Promoting art in southern africa-sound connect fund   

Conversation with Art is one of the industries that is least funded. It is, therefore, good to learn that there is an opportunity that artists, through their organisations, can tap into, the Sound Connect Fun. The opportunity is open until April 15 2022 for artists in southern Africa, including Malawi. Our arts editor EDITH GONDWE caught up with Sound Connect Fund spokesperson Thabiso Mohale for details.

Q

: Tell us more about the Sound Connects Fund. What does it do and how long has it been targeting artists from Malawi and other parts of Africa?

A

: The Sound Connects Fund is an initiative of the Music In Africa Foundation and the Goethe-Institut with the aim of accelerating development and capacity of organisations working in the creative and cultural industries in southern Africa.

The fund is made possible with funding from the ACP-EU Culture Programme, a project implemented by the secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific [ACP] Group of States and funded by the European Union [EU].

The fund is also co-funded by Goethe-Institut and Siemens Stiftung. The Sound Connects Fund has been in operation since early 2021.

The current call is our second call and there is another scheduled for December 2022.

It is targeting creative and cultural organisations in southern Africa, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, eSwatini [formerly Swaziland] and Botswana.

Applicants can apply for the following grants; Category A [35 000 Euros to 60 000 Euros, with a project length of up to eight months], category B [61 000 Euros to 100 000 Euros, with project length of up to 12 months] and category C [101 000 Eurosto 180 000 Euros, with project length of up to 18 months].

Q: This year, you have announced an opportunity for funding for artists. Which artists are eligible to get this funding and what is the procedure that artists can follow to get the funding?

A

: Legally registered organisations can apply for the fund, but the fund seeks to award organisations with programmatic areas that will ensure that individual artists are benefitting in various and impactful ways. Some of the programmatic areas the Sound Connects Fund focuses on are professional development programmes for culture and creative sector practitioners in southern Africa, programmes that deliver incubation of talent and services in the performing arts, and programmes offering more affordable and greater access to professional services and facilities, to name a few. All interested organisations are urged to peruse through the information on our website and guidelines meticulously to determine if they are eligible. If eligible, they need to ensure that they submit all of the requested information and documentation before the stipulated deadline, April 15 2022.

Q

: What are the conditions that artists will have to follow once they get the funding?

A

: Application guidelines are listed at Sound Connects Fund website or email at scf@musicafrica.net. Once organisations are awarded, after being reviewed by the grants awarding committee, they need to implement the project as stated in their application. During the course of their project, there will be opportunities to participate in networking and capacity-building activities.

Q

: Your last comment?

A

: The fund will favour applications that are innovative, aligned with the Sound Connects theme and decidedly demonstrate how their projects will contribute to accelerating development and increasing the capacity of the cultural and creative sector in their country. The closing deadline for this call for grant application is April 15 2022, without exception. Organisations that have queries can read through the FAQs and Common Applicants Mistakes booklet, or email us on scf@musicinafrica.net.