Capacity Building with The Creative and Cultural Industries Skills Development Program (CCI SDP)
Many creative practitioners and enterprises we interact with at HEVA are ever-eager to improve their understanding, skills, competency, and competitiveness in the creative and cultural industries ecosystem. It is for this very reason that we continue to make strategic partnerships in business support and knowledge facilities.
Culture Funding Watch (CFW) recently launched the CCI SDP (Creative and Cultural Industries Skills Development Program). This phased skills development program aims to build the capacities of the cultural and creative actors of the global south in areas related to CCI funding and financial sustainability. For its first deployment phase targeting the first group of Anglophone countries, CFW partnered with HEVA Fund from Kenya, Africa In Colors from Rwanda, and ccHub Creative Economy from Nigeria.
The program kicked off in March by reaching out to creatives via our social media and newsletter (join the HEVA newsletter community here). We invited a number of applicants to strengthen their proposal writing, pitch deck creation, fundraising, and funds management skills via a series of free online masterclasses conducted by CFW CEO and resource mobilization expert for the CCI sectors, Miss Ouafa Belgacem.
THE MASTERCLASSES:
The Skills Development Program was 4 part series of classes delivered as online classes, spread out over a duration of 4 weeks. Below is a brief glimpse into what each class covered.
Proposal writing: on day one students covered, the components of a good proposal and a step-by-step guide on preparing your proposal
Choose your incubator: held over two days, this masterclass focused on how creatives can select the right incubator to help them achieve their business goals
Know your investor: the class learned the fundamentals of how to secure funding for their business or project.
Pitch deck writing: an exercise in resources mobilisation where Miss Ouafa Belgacem taught learners about the concepts of a pitch, its golden rules, and how to put together a good pitch.
All those who successfully completed the CCI SDP masterclasses will receive certificates. We look forward to seeing the continuous application of the skills acquired in their creative enterprises, taking them to the next level. Thank you to CFW CEO, Miss Ouafa Belgacem, and our program partners at Africa in Colors, and CcHUB Creative Economy.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The HEVA and CFW team are currently in the planning stages of a virtual conference about CCI Financing and accessing opportunities for funding. The panel (yet to be announced) will dive into the national challenges faced by artists and CCI actors, and the available opportunities to explore. Details will be announced via the HEVA newsletter and social media platforms.
CCI SDP plans to continue strengthening the capacity and competitiveness of developing countries' creative and cultural industries through more training and skills development opportunities for individuals and organizations. To keep up with future capacity-building opportunities available in your region check out the CFW website.
