A total of 30 impact oriented and sustainable projects from stakeholders in the Cultural and Creative Industry are set to benefit from a Rwf300 million recovery fund launched by the government and various partners on Friday, July, 24.
Dubbed ‘Cultural and Creative Industry (CCI) recovery plan’, the initiative is a partnership between ArtRwanda –Ubuhanzi project, Imbuto Foundation, the Ministry of Youth and Culture, and the Rwanda Language Academy of Language and Culture (RALC).
Rosemary Mbabazi, The Minister for Youth and Culture, explained on the national television that the initiative comes as a relief to members of the cultural and creative industry which is among the hardest hit by the Coronavirus outbreak.
"Like other Rwandans, life has not been easy for artistes. There is need to support artistes in their various federations in order for them to continue with their efforts to develop the Cultural and Creative Industry,” the minister pointed out.
She added that owing to the current coronavirus containment measures which have led to the closure of concerts in the country, artistes are particularly in need.
"This Grant will be managed by Business Partners Network (BPN), a local business accelerator, which will review applications and provide a 6-month service period to selected projects,” the Minister added.
Call for teamwork
According to Alice Nkulikiyinka, Managing Director, BPN Rwanda, the recovery fund will support enterprises and individual artists operating in Rwanda, to recover from the setbacks caused by Covid-19. 19 pandemic.
However, she highlighted that, "there is need for collaboration amongst artistes and other stakeholders in the industry in order to pitch impact oriented and sustainable projects.”
She also observed that "For a project to be selected among the best 30, it has to be sustainable (long time impact) as well as benefit a big number of artistes”.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Ferdinand Munezero, president of Rwanda Arts Council (RAC), who called upon local artistes to discourage individualism but rather consider collaborations, which may lead to better sustainable projects.
Munezero also emphasized that the initiative is not meant for a particular artiste, but "all artistes in their various federations are eligible to apply for the fund.”
The federations expected to benefit include, Rwanda Music Federation, Rwanda Film Federation, Rwanda Plastics Arts Federation, Rwanda Writers Federation, Rwanda Beauty and Fashion Federation, Rwanda Traditional Dance Federation and Rwanda Performing Arts Federation.
Artistes welcome the development
In the wake of the development, artistes have welcomed the news, citing that, the proposed recovery plan will among other things help them cope with the current crisis.
Besides, fashion Entrepreneur, Lauren Rwema said that the initiative is proof that the government has not forgotten about the industry.
"This makes us proud knowing that the current pandemic has affected us but this initiative will ensure that our efforts as artistes are not in vain,” Rwema said.
Singer Mani Martin also remarked that the fund will be a motivation for artists to work even hard and release better content.
"But this also calls for a sense of responsibility. Seeing that we are being thought of challenges us to put in more efforts and produce better work,” He said.
According to the Minister of Youth and Culture, applications will start immediately, and will last for only two weeks, until the selection process commences. She also challenged all applicants to consider the criteria posted on www.artrwanda.rw.