Marginalised creative communities in Zimbabwe urged to apply for Swiss Support Fund Advisory board members and Swiss Embassy team at the launch of SSADZA in Harare in September. (Pic by the Stimulus Africa Foundation)

Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected]

THE Swiss Embassy in Zimbabwe, in collaboration with Stimulus Africa Foundation, has launched the Swiss Support for Arts Development in Zimbabwe (SSADZA) Fund, a transformative initiative aimed at empowering visual artists and cultural practitioners across the nation.

This programme, which runs from 2024 to 2028, invites applications from individuals, creative entrepreneurs, and cultural organisations, with a particular focus on youth, women, and marginalised groups.

The SSADZA initiative seeks to enrich Zimbabwe’s arts landscape both economically and socially by providing essential support to develop new creative works, build networks, and engage diverse audiences.

Rudo Nyangulu-Mungofa, executive director of Stimulus Africa, said, “We are excited to lead this initiative and contribute to the growth of Zimbabwe’s vibrant arts and culture sector. By equipping creatives with the necessary skills, we can help guide them towards delivering impactful and successful projects.”

Through targeted capacity-building support, participants will enhance their skills in financial literacy, project management, and storytelling—tools essential for managing their projects and grant funding effectively.

This foundational training aims to prepare artists for sustained success, allowing them to tap into additional funding and smart finance options as their creative ventures flourish.

The SSADZA Fund also aims to stimulate social change and enhance civil society by promoting arts and culture as catalysts for dialogue, social cohesion, and peaceful coexistence.

The programme will engage in policy influencing with donors and government to secure increased financial support for the arts, addressing the many challenges faced by cultural practitioners in Zimbabwe.

Applications for the SSADZA Fund opened on Monday and will remain open until December 31.

The fund offers various grant sizes: small grants up to US$1 000 for individual creatives, medium grants ranging from US$1 000 to US$5,000 for individuals or collectives, and large grants from US$5 000 to $10 000 for arts and cultural organisations.
Projects funded through this initiative typically run between one to six months.

This significant investment by the Swiss Embassy represents a commitment to fostering cultural diversity and artistic talent in Zimbabwe.

The SSADZA programme not only aims to strengthen artistic expression but also seeks to support sustainable cultural development, ultimately enriching the community and providing creatives with the opportunity to reach broader audiences both locally and internationally.

The SSADZA initiative is a call to action for Zimbabwe’s marginalised creative communities to seize this opportunity for growth and visibility.

With the support of the Swiss Embassy and Stimulus Africa, the future of Zimbabwe’s arts and culture sector looks promising. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu

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