ArtXchange project Connects Creative Youth in Africa and Europe

The creative sectors in Kenya and Somalia are benefitting from a new project dubbed "ArtXchange – Connecting Creative Youth in Africa and Europe" funded by the European Commission as part of their AU-EU Youth Cooperation Hub. The project aims to support young creative professionals and community-based organizations by promoting collaboration, capacity building and exchange among Kenya, Somalia, Italy and Sweden. 

ArtXchange is spearheaded by CISP (International Committee for the Development of Peoples), in partnership with UNESCO (Eastern Africa), The GoDown Arts Centre (Kenya), Natverkstan Kultur (Sweden), The Somali Academy of Science and Arts (Somalia) and Coop Culture (Italy). Partner representatives also constitute the project steering committee, which will play an advisory body's role to the project that offers strategic direction, oversees coordination, and ensures the successful implementation of the planned activities.

In this partnership, the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa is providing technical support for capacity building of local stakeholders in policy development for the creative sector, networking and resource sharing, by drawing on the resources and guidance of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The two-and-a-half-year project will adopt an integrated approach, based on four components, namely: 1)Capacity building of young creatives, CSOs, relevant authorities and stakeholders in the creative sector; 2)Connecting creative youth and organizations across Africa and Europe through digital platforms, exchanges and partnerships; 3) Co-creating artistic projects and productions and 4)Celebrating and sharing creative expression through events and spaces for participation, intercultural dialogue, social and economic inclusion of youth. 

During the first Steering Committee meeting held on 30 October 2020, the project partners shared an overview and update on activities, which have included mapping the culture and creative industries to identify Kenya's gaps and opportunities; selecting trainees from Somalia and Kenya; and agreeing on the use of Moodle open source learning platform to deliver capacity building and training material to the young creatives in Kenya and Somalia. A youth hub in Somalia was also in the process of establishment and ready for the installation of technical equipment

"UNESCO is pleased to be among the active partners joining forces for the successful implementation of this exciting project that will help to empower youth in Kenya and Somalia through the cultural and creative industries sector." Ms. Karalyn Monteil, Programme Specialist - Culture ,UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa

For more information on the project, please see:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/artxchangeproject/posts/

For more information on the UNESCO 2005 Convention, please see:

https://en.unesco.org/creativity/files/investing-creativity