Hii Stage: The Official Launch and Going on Tour!
11 exceptional performance artists who were selected to receive funding for the Hii Stage Performance and Touring grant have taken their performances on tour across the country!
Meet the 11 artists who have been awarded the Hii Stage Performance and Touring Grant.
THE TOURS
Juliet Onyach (Nile Dawta), Adam Chienjo, Sharon Ong’ayo Liboi, LBX Africa, Amandeep Jagde, Maina Munune, Kibanda Theatre, Harrison (Stom) Wabuko, Wanjiku Mwawuganga, Nairobi Performing Arts Studio and Katoi & the Mijikenda Jazz Band are showcasing a diversity of art forms including stand-up comedy, experimental theatre, multigenre music and contemporary dance. Each performing artist is showcasing in at least 3 counties on select tour dates between May and August 2024. All performance venues were chosen from a list of 7 - Dunga Hill Camp (Kisumu), Nakuru Players (Nakuru), Sarakasi Trust (Nairobi), Alliance Francaise (Nairobi), Alliance Francaise (Mombasa), Swahili Pot Hub (Mombasa) and the Utamaduni Centre (Lamu). These cultural spaces are part of the Creative Art Spaces in Kenya (CASiK), which aims to create a network of accredited and functional performance venues across the country.
Learn more about all the 11 artists and their awarded performances which push new ideas and boundaries, and engage audiences across the country in meaningful ways here.
View the tour dates, times and venues on the Hii Stage events page.
Tour dates, venues and times are regularly updated on the Hii Stage events page.
THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH
Most of the performance tours kicked-off after the celebratory program launch event on 7th May at Alliance Française Nairobi. Grant fund partners, government representatives, CASiK network representatives, and press from national media houses were invited to officially meet the beneficiaries, giving the latter a chance to tell us more about their original high-quality productions which contribute to Kenya's vibrant arts scene. Launch day also presented the opportunity for the artists to interact, make new connections, and find potential avenues for future collaborations.
Dr Akati Khasiani, HEVA’s Head of Grants and Inclusion shared, “This grant represents our dedication to fostering artistic excellence and ensuring that performance art and cultural work continues to thrive. We are thrilled to congratulate the talented individuals who have been awarded this grant. Their projects promise to challenge conventions, provoke thought, and spark dialogue while entertaining and underscoring the transformative power of performance art. We look forward to seeing how their projects unfold and the impact they will have on our communities.”
Harsita Waters, Head of Cultural Affairs at Alliance Française Nairobi added, “This additional opportunity to provide touring grants to Kenyan artists to perform at the CASiK venues is timely as it continues the journey of democratizing the arts across the country, broadening inclusivity, accessibility and participating. The Alliance Française is committed to promoting the diversity of artistic expressions and creativity.”
Thank you to all those who participated in the call for applications which opened in November 2023. The opportunity was shared on social media and other digital spaces, garnering 177 applications which all went through a rigorous 5-stage review process leading to the selection of our final 11.
The Hii Stage Performance and Touring Grant is implemented in partnership with Alliance Française, with the financial support of the French Government through the Creation Africa programme. The latter is aligned with the Kenyan Government’s Talanta Hela initiative to boost the cultural and creative industries.
Related articles and links:
The Hii stage events page: see the performances on tour
