The Ministry of Youth and Arts on Friday, June 20, launched a 24-month initiative which is expected to reinforce Rwanda’s cultural and creative industries in the near future. Dubbed “Empowering Rwanda’s Arts Sectors: Strengthening the Rwanda Arts Council in Favor of Cultural and Creative Industries,” the initiative is backed by the European Union and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Its mission is in line with the 2005 UNESCO Convention, which Rwanda ratified in 2012. It brought together officials from UNESCO’s Regional Office, EU, key figures in Rwanda’s creative scene, and government officials. ALSO READ: Minister Umutoni calls for stronger collaboration in African cinema industry Minister of State for Youth and Arts Sandrine Umutoni emphasized the vital role of creativity in shaping Rwanda’s future, calling for a society where artistic expression is not only valued but also empowered to drive national transformation. She underscored the need to place culture and the creative economy at the center of Rwanda’s development agenda. “This project will help establish a legitimate, inclusive, and active governance structure for the Rwanda Arts Council—one built with your voices, informed by your struggles, and inspired by your foresight,” Umutoni said. She explained that the project would fundamentally reshape the governance of Rwanda’s creative industries by strengthening the Rwanda Arts Council, establishing a national framework, co-creating a forward-looking strategy, and fostering enduring mechanisms for inclusive policy-making and sector-wide collaboration. ALSO READ:Minister Umutoni sheds light on new IP law amid artists’ concerns The Minister also highlighted the necessity of building robust systems to support the creative sector, enabling artists to adapt traditional forms to modern contexts, access diverse markets, earn fair and sustainable incomes, and safeguard their intellectual property as a fundamental right. “Together, let us light a path where art is accessible to all, and imagination is seen as a precious resource, to be nurtured from the youngest age.” The launched project will develop a forward-looking strategy for the Rwanda Arts Council through inclusive, multi-stakeholder consultations that reflect the diverse needs of the cultural and creative sectors.
