National arts policy expected in May, says minister

The Minister of Youth and Arts, Dr. Abdallah Utumatwishima, has announced significant progress in the development of Rwanda’s National Arts Policy and a strategic plan intended to strengthen support systems for artistes and stakeholders across the creative industry. He made the remarks on Friday, February 13, during the ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi Xperience at the Kigali Cultural Village. The event also marked the graduation of the third cohort of ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi incubation programme, composed of 46 artistes who have successfully completed one year. ALSO READ: ArtRwanda Ubuhanzi All Stars contest kicks off According to the minister, the National Arts Policy is expected to be officially launched by May. The policy will protect artistes from the grassroots level to the national level and will include a framework of policies and laws to which artistes themselves will contribute in its formulation, ultimately benefiting the creative community. “We have made significant progress in developing the Rwanda Arts Policy, which we expect to launch by May 2026,” said Dr. Utumatwishima. ALSO READ: Major boost for creatives as new contemporary art space opens In addition to the policy, the minister revealed plans to establish the Rwanda Arts Council in partnership with UNESCO and creative industry experts. The council is expected to play a central role in supporting artistes in their day-to-day professional activities. Addressing one of the sector’s most persistent challenges—access to finance—Utumatwishima noted that the ministry is working in partnership with Bank of Kigali to introduce a new financing scheme dubbed Be Creative. The initiative will provide artistes with project-based loans that can be repaid without the requirement for collateral. “Through our partnership with the Bank of Kigali, the Be Creative programme will offer creatives access to loans for their projects without requiring collateral,” he added. The minister further highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen artistes’ professional capacity beyond incubation programmes, noting the need for continued support to help graduates transform their talents into sustainable sources of income. “We are working with partners to create pathways through which artistes can receive further professional support, including access to qualified management, enabling them to develop their talent into profitable businesses that can support their livelihoods and those of their families,” he said. Dr. Utumatwishima encouraged the graduates of incubation programmes to remain focused on their long-term ambitions and to continue developing their skills in order to achieve sustainable growth within the creative industry.

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National arts policy expected in May, says minister