daniel chigunweTafara Chibanda
ZIMBABWE officially launched the Connect for Culture Africa initiative (CFCA), a transformative initiative aimed at reshaping the cultural and creative landscape.
The CFCA project is a joint venture between SELAM and African Union (AU), supported by the Swedish government, which seeks to advocate for a minimum one percent of the national budget allocation for the Culture and Arts sector by 2030.
Addressing the media during a press conference to announce the initiative, Josh Nyampindi, Research and Consultation Spokesperson for Nhimbe Trust, outlined the importance of having a centralised, independent body to manage public funding for the Arts and Culture.
“We need an independent financial institution dedicated solely to the arts and culture sector, one that can receive and distribute government funds transparently and effectively.
“At the moment, cultural funding is spread across multiple government ministries, making it difficult to track and manage.
“An independent body would streamline the process, reduce administrative overheads and ensure funds are allocated directly to the sector,” he said.
He said the CFCA project aims to shift the cultural sector’s position in national budgets across Africa.
“There are signs of progress, but more work is needed to ensure that these funds are effectively utilised for the promotion of cultural industries.
“While Zimbabwe has made progress, we are still far from fully harnessing the potential of our cultural assets.
“The funding is there but it’s not being used in the most impactful way. It’s often absorbed by administrative costs, leaving little for actual cultural production and development. That’s where the need for a more effective structure comes in,” Nyampindi said.
Through the initiative, SELAM and its partners are working to create a multi-stakeholder regional network that will bring together artists, cultural institutions, government agencies and the private sector to advocate for greater financial support for the arts.
“There’s a need for consistent education and training in budget literacy for those working within the arts and culture sector,” he noted.
“Advocacy for cultural funding should not just be a reaction to budget allocations, but a proactive, ongoing process where stakeholders understand the budget formulation process and actively engage with it.
“There is a great opportunity here to align with best practices from countries like South Africa, where dedicated agencies exist to manage cultural funding effectively.”
Online Reporter