Call for Applications
Hii Stage II
The Creation Africa – Kenya project is supported by the French Government, through the Fonds Equipe France funding facility, and aims to support and accompany Kenyan creatives in the development and realization of innovative projects in the digital space, as well as support performing artists in the production and circulation of high-quality original Kenyan work in the performing arts and music sectors. It aligns with the Kenyan Government’s Talanta Hela initiative to support and develop talents in the creative industry.
In 2021, the Embassy of France, through the French Government’s Solidarity Fund for innovative projects supported five arts and cultural spaces in Kisumu, Nakuru, Nairobi, Mombasa and Lamu with sound and light equipment, trainings in sound/light engineering, cultural programme management and branding and marketing, as well national artists’ tours. These spaces collectively referred to as Creative Arts Spaces in Kenya Network (CASiK) include Dunga Hill Camp (Kisumu), Nakuru Players Theatre (Nakuru), Sarakasi Trust (Nairobi), Swahili Pot Hub (Mombasa) and Utamaduni Centre (Lamu) and the Alliance Française in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Hii Stage II presents yet another opportunity for Kenyan artists to take their performances across selected counties in 2025 and continue broadening their audiences. It also provides the CASiK venues with diverse programming content. As a result, Kenyan artists will be touring their original quality productions across Kenya and make a positive contribution to the national cultural landscape.
Hii Stage I, managed by Heva Fund in 2024, enabled 11 artists/groups to execute a total of 45 performances across 5 counties showcasing a rich variety of performing arts disciplines, engaging diverse audiences, and mobilizing local communities.
Through grants up to 1,000,000 KE, Hii Stage II production and touring fund will enable creative individuals and collectives to refine their productions for showcasing in at least 2 fully equipped performing arts venues from the CASiK network.
Practitioners in theatre, live music (vocal, instrumental, deejaying), spoken word, poetry, storytelling, dance, comedy, puppetry/pantomime and multimedia and transdisciplinary arts are eligible to apply.
Projects awarded grants under this programme must be original works that contain African social, cultural and/or political themes, and employ strategies that encourage local communities to access cultural spaces.
All projects proposed must be implemented between April and September 2025.
The CASiK network consists of 5 fully equipped and functional performance venues in Kenya: Dunga Hill Camp (Kisumu), Nakuru Players (Nakuru), Sarakasi Trust (Nairobi), Swahili Pot Hub -Mombasa) and Utamaduni Centre (Lamu).
This collaborative network is the result of a two-year project supported by the French Embassy through the French Government’s Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects to enhance the infrastructure, technical capabilities, and cultural programming in these venues in a bid to create an enabling environment for the creation, production, circulation of cultural activities across Kenya.
Read more about the venues and the technical capacities here.
• Applicants must live and work in Kenya.
• Applicants must be in the performing or creative arts industry in Kenya.
• Eligible value chains include: theatre, live music (vocal, instrumental, deejaying), spoken word, poetry, storytelling, dance, comedy, puppetry/pantomime, multimedia and transdisciplinary arts.
• Prosed projects should portray evidence and themes that speak to African social, cultural and/or political context.
• Applicants must have pre-ideated projects that are in the execution phase.
• Applicants must present original work (covers will not be supported).
• Financial support up to 1,000,000 KE.
15 January 2025
Call opens
7 February 2025
Deadline for submission
March 2025
Shortlisted candidates invited for online pitch sessions and successful candidates notified
1 – 15 April 2025
Successful applicants will enter a contractual agreement with project partners
16 April – 30 September 2025
Projects executed
1-15 October 2025
Financial and Narrative reports submitted
Selection and Evaluation criteria
An expert jury composed of industry professionals will select the eligible projects based on:
• Artistic Merit : artistic quality and track record of key artists.
• Feasibility: realistic budget, and achievable timelines.
• Public engagement : strategies to maximize and diversify audiences.
The review process will be as follows:
1. The initial sieve: The initial stage involves a preliminary review of all received applications to ensure they meet the basic eligibility criteria and submission requirements.
2. Shortlisting: Applications will be reviewed by a jury composed of industry professionals based on eligibility and evaluation criteria, with the aim of shortlisting the most promising candidates for further consideration.
3. Pitch stage: At this stage, shortlisted applicants are given the opportunity to present their project proposals to the selection panel.
4. Due Diligence: This phase involves an evaluation of all shortlisted candidates, which includes a thorough review of their proposed project plans, budgets, timelines, and the overall feasibility of the ideas they presented.
5. Contracting: The final stage involves the successful applicants entering into a contractual agreement with the project partners.
Applicant obligations post receiving grant
• Submitting a mid-grant progress report and final report as well as sharing consistent updates detailing the project’s fund use
• Successful applicants require a dedicated KSH bank account to receive the funds disbursed to them.
• The grants will be disbursed in tranches according to the project work plan. For planning purposes, the applicants should note that the final 20% will be disbursed after project completion and approval of the grantees final report.
