Culture, a dynamic sector to capitalise on in Mozambique
Mozambique has a dynamic and promising cultural sector that offers opportunities for employment, innovation and economic growth. The numerous cultural events in Maputo and the provinces, along with the high-quality music and dance festivals, demonstrate the vitality of this sector. The country also has several internationally renowned visual artists and has recently seen the emergence of digital design and communication companies.
However, despite this potential, the sector remains largely underexploited. There are many reasons for this: shortage of skilled staff, lack of financing and access to markets, weakness of institutions, disparities between the capital and the provinces, and the international isolation of the sector.
To address this situation, action is being taken to fully exploit the potential of the cultural sector and contribute to the social and economic development of the country. It focuses on making optimal use of digital technologies, and young people and women are identified as key actors in this change. The objective is to build their skills and empower them to use culture to change perceptions, promote tolerance and environmentally friendly attitudes, and facilitate the digital transition.
In addition, the country’s cultural resources, including its rich cultural heritage, offer opportunities for the development of a sustainable creative and inclusive economy, especially for young people, including in the field of the digital economy.
Cultiv’ARTE, a project to strengthen Mozambique’s cultural sector
Given the potential of culture in Mozambique, Expertise France is implementing the Cultiv’ARTE project, which aims to strengthen the cultural sector and turn it into a major actor in the social and economic development of the country. Support is being provided to the various stakeholders in the cultural ecosystem, based on the three lines of action presented below.
Strengthen the professional skills of cultural actors at the technical, entrepreneurial and digital levels
- Through a partnership with IdeiaLab, implementation of a customised incubation and acceleration programme for young cultural entrepreneurs in the targeted regions and for project initiators in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) sector, representing 135 projects
- Development of an internship programme for students and young entrepreneurs in CCI, with 33 interns
Support the development and structuring of entrepreneurs in the CCI sector in partnership with the European Union National Institutes for Culture network and the Franco-Mozambican Cultural Centre
- Strengthen networking among the various actors in the cultural ecosystem through regular professional and public events (thematic conferences, forums and trade fairs)
- Set up a grant programme to support the seed stage of small and medium-sized projects (50 projects)
- Support the international mobility of culture professionals
- Help structure, in the medium and long term, events with high potential for international outreach
Support the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and other public bodies in the CCI sector
- Provide technical expertise to support the implementation of new procedures for the collection and distribution of royalties
- Support the creation of a legal framework conducive to patronage and the process to define the professional status of artists in Mozambique
- Support the operation of the Casas da Cultura in the four provincial capitals (Pemba, Xai-Xai, Inhambane, Chimoio) by providing equipment and customised technical assistance
