Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma in Harare
ARTS organisation Chenhaka Trust has launched a new project, “Shaping the Future of Zimbabwe’s Creative Sector”, aimed at empowering artistes and cultural leaders to influence policies affecting the arts and culture industry.
The project is funded by the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust, in partnership with the European Union (EU) Delegation to Zimbabwe, which awarded a total of US$119 200 in grants to six Zimbabwean cultural operators under the CreativeACTIONs 2 initiative. Grant allocations ranged between US$9 400 and US$35 000, with Chenhaka Trust receiving the largest share of US$35 000. The project will run from October 2 to December 31, 2025.
The initiative seeks to strengthen the creative sector by increasing capacity for policy dialogue, improving the policy environment, enhancing access to funding and resources, integrating African instruments into the Early Childhood Development curriculum, and upgrading infrastructure for artistes.
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, Chenhaka Trust Senior Programmes Officer Reginald Tinavapi said the project aims to create a supportive environment that promotes the growth and development of Zimbabwe’s arts and culture industry.
“Despite the significant contribution of the creative sector to Zimbabwe’s economy and cultural identity, its growth is hampered by challenges such as exclusion from policy formulation, limited access to funding, and inadequate infrastructure. A critical issue is the lack of advocacy and lobbying skills among cultural practitioners, which limits their engagement with policymakers and prevents their needs from being addressed,” Tinavapi said.
He outlined the project’s three core objectives:
Train 40 artistes and cultural leaders in advocacy, policy analysis, communication, and negotiation skills at the national level.
Educate artistes on existing policy frameworks, including national and international laws and regulations affecting the creative industry.
Bring together high-level stakeholders, government representatives, industry experts, and cultural practitioners to discuss policy issues, celebrate Zimbabwe’s cultural diversity, and demonstrate the potential of the creative sector.
Key activities during the project rollout will include the official project launch to secure stakeholder support, two two-day advocacy and capacity-building trainings, one for the West Region (Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South, and Midlands provinces) and one for the East Region (Harare, Mashonaland East, West, Central, and Masvingo provinces).
Other planned activities include equipping creatives with policy advocacy and negotiation skills, hosting a two-day National Policy Dialogue Indaba to discuss and develop recommendations on sector challenges, and a live performance event to showcase local talent and promote the creative sector.
The launch was attended by the Director of Arts and Culture in the Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Dr Biggie Samwanda; National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) executive director Napoleon “Napster” Nyanhi; Chenhaka Trust executive director Taurai Moyo; musicians, sculptors, actors, actresses; and officials from NACZ, Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust, and the EU Delegation. – Follow on X: @mthabisi_mthire
