If you are working and living in Africa and you are an artist/creative, you can now apply for the Kuonyesha Art Fund, which supports, promotes, and celebrates art and artists in all their diversity in Africa.
Areas of focus include visual arts (painting, sculpture, weaving, woodcut printing, crafts, etc.), fashion and product design, literature (including publishing), audio-visual (graphics & animation, new media), dance, and music.
Others are theatre, film and photography, folklore/spoken word, arts research, multi-disciplinary projects, exhibitions/publications/arts dissemination, and other performing artists.
Eligibility criteria
– The grant award is open to all artists of all ages living and working on the African continent; minors may be required to be accompanied and guided by an adult. Female artists and artists who are persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
– Individual artists who are established and have demonstrated the ability to influence communities through their art will have to demonstrate the ability to manage funds/resources responsibly.
– The Fund will serve as a ‘push fund’ for artists with the potential to do more with their art but are unable to proceed because of limited resources.
– The fund will also prioritize new or emerging artists who may not have much exposure or are trying new ideas and require investment to enable them further to explore and showcase their work.
– The fund will also consider artists who require support to enhance the quality of their work through such activities as additional research, technical art training, provision of equipment, and exposure.
– Only artists who are living in Africa and/or citizens of or have been granted permanent residence in any country in Africa may apply.
How selection is done
– The winning artists are selected based on originality, feasibility, the quality of their work, technique prowess, conceptual and thematic engagement, honest reasoning, and rationale of the submitted ideas/artists’ works/art projects in their chosen arts field.
– Projects that critically address/reflect on urgent socio-political issues/a relevant topic in society are given greater attention.
– Consideration is also given to projects that seek to build relations with new or broader audiences within the African discourse.
– Projects that develop new collaborative ways of working with communities, activists, scientists, and the like also get attention
– Projects must bring art to new spaces
Application deadline
May 11, 2025
The Kuonyesha Art Fund is accepting applications from African artists and creatives to support and celebrate the diversity of art in Africa.
The fund covers a wide range of art including visual arts, fashion, literature, audio-visual media, dance, music, theatre, film, photography, and more.
Eligible applicants include African artists of all ages, with a focus on female artists and those with disabilities, as well as both established and emerging artists.
Applicants must reside in Africa or have African citizenship or permanent residency.
The selection process for the grant emphasizes originality, feasibility, work quality, technique, conceptual engagement, and the potential societal impact of the projects.
Projects that address socio-political issues or engage with new audiences are prioritized. Applications should also seek to create new ways of working collaboratively across various fields and should aim to bring art to new spaces.
The application deadline is May 11, 2025. Interested artists can apply through the provided link.
