The motivation for the new phase of the RACP is as a result of a number of reasons that vary from little or inconsistent engagement between arts and culture players and the relevant government or regional institutions hence the apparent unbalanced development in the sector; fragmented or in some cases non-existent arts organisations; underdeveloped artists platforms that are facing sustainability and relevance challenges, and low artistic entrepreneurship leading to revenue loss as a result of weak business models.
In addition, close analysis of government and regional policies shows a clear lack of prioritisation of the arts and culture sector despite the real and potential contribution they can make to economic growth and employment particularly for youth and women. This lack of support to the sector has made it difficult for artists in Southern Africa to network, travel across the region and increase their outreach.
The new programme will see funding being channelled through individuals, groups and organisations. Individual artists from the region will be supported in developing new projects and collaborations across national borders with artists and partners in other countries. In supporting the circulation of work, Pro Helvetia will closely work with organisations, bands and promoters that wish to showcase artistic work at platforms across the region with a particular focus on and South-South exchanges especially in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Lesotho and Swaziland.
In the last three years (2015 – 2017), the impact of the RACP has increased substantially both in geographical reach and impact, with more than 1 200 arts professionals involved in 135 projects and residencies. The activities have traversed the majority of countries in Southern Africa with a significant footprint in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar. Aside from enabling the development of new and relevant works across diverse fields of practice, the most important result of the programme has however been the web of connections and relationships between individuals, projects and initiatives across the region that it has enabled.
Applications for the Ant Mobility Funding programme are currently open and will close on 12 February 2018.
