Art funding in Africa: a guide for artists
As an artist, securing funding for your projects and endeavors can often be a daunting task. However, there are a plethora of organizations in Africa that are dedicated to supporting artists just like you. From government programs to private foundations, these organizations offer a wide range of funding opportunities for artists of all disciplines and at all career levels. We will explore some of the most notable organizations that offer funding to help take your career to the next level.
Make sure to check also the funding in the Arab world, which includes Northern Africa.
Regional Funding
Check the eligibility criteria carefully (can be the entire continent or only part of it)
Art Moves Africa (AMA) is an international non-for-profit organisation aiming to facilitate cultural and artistic exchanges within the African continent. AMA offers travel funds to artists, arts professionals and cultural operators living and working in Africa to travel within the African continent in order to engage in the exchange of information, the enhancement of skills, the development of informal networks and the pursuit of cooperation. The AMA grants cover travel, visa and travel insurance costs.
Eligibility: Individuals from any African country
Pro Helvetia Johannesburg has for some time been investing in transnational collaborations, exchanges and joint projects among organisations and creative practitioners operating across the SADC region, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Their investments are focused on projects, networks and platforms that have a shared interest in building a stronger regional creative fabric. For the current phase of the programme (2018 – 2020) ANT Mobility Funding has been separated into two distinct and more focused streams. The first is directed at individual artists and arts practitioners; and the second to bands, performing arts companies, collectives, festivals and arts organisations generally.
Eligibility: The geographical scope is the SADC region, see the full list of eligible countries here.
Organisation Mondiale de la Francophonie
Artists from French-speaking countries can be eligible for support to take part in festivals, exhibitions, trainings (in certain cases) in the fields of visual arts and performing arts. Read more about the programmes here. The organization offers diverse programs addressing mobility of artists, professional training, and structuring of cultural spaces.
Eligibility: Individuals from French-speaking countries in the South (inc. African countries).
Bi- and Multilateral
More than one nationality is eligible, but sometimes only one departure and/or host country.
Pro Helvetia Cape Town is one of the Pro Helvetia representations abroad, set up at the beginning of 1998.
In collaboration with its liaison offices, Pro Helvetia supports residencies in India, China and South Africa. Swiss artists and cultural practitioners (e.g. curators, event organisers, mediators) in the areas of the visual arts, music, literature, theatre and dance are eligible to apply. At the same time, Pro Helvetia facilitates residencies in Switzerland for artists and cultural practitioners from the above-mentioned regions.
Eligibility: Swiss and South African artists
The ifa Artists' Contact programme promotes the international cooperation of German and foreign persons engaged in the cultural sector. Working stays as well as working tours from developing and emerging countries to Germany are supported if the realisation is in the interest of foreign cultural policy. Focus on visual arts, 2 deadlines per year (31 January and 15 August).
Eligibility: Individuals from developing and emerging countries and German nationals.
The Thami Mnyele Foundation runs a unique three month artists-in-residence program in Amsterdam (Netherlands) for African artists. Any professional in visual arts can apply (no deadline) for the funded residency.
Eligibility: (visual) artists from the whole of Africa
Per Country
Only one nationality is eligible.
The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust (CFoZT) was partner with HIVOS in the Culture Fund Hivos mobility Fund (2013-2015). The Culture Fund will continue to receive applications from practitioners in the creative industries for international funding.
Eligibility: Individuals from Zwimbabwe
