Empowering The Next Generation of Female Creatives

The Sisters Next Generation (sisnxtgen) programme by Media and Arts Zimbabwe is aimed at young and emerging females in the creative industries of Bulawayo. The programme intends to expand opportunities for girls and women in the creative and cultural industries of music, photography and podcasting and share resources and knowledge through cooperation, collaboration and diversity.

Wide gender disparities exist in the arts, cultural and creative economy as revealed by several Baseline Surveys on the Culture Sector in Zimbabwe. This target group has essentially no access to resources such as equipment, training, mentorship and the covid-19 pandemic has made it more difficult for female creative practitioners to access necessary services and assistance. Under the umbrella of Empowering The Next Generation of Female Creatives, the sisnxtgen programme aims to address the challenges faced by emerging female creatives by availing the necessary knowledge, skills and technical requirements for them to setup and expand their craft. The results of the project will include five podcasts, an online photography exhibition and the collaboration between emerging female musicians from Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

Ten female creatives from Bulawayo will be selected for the sisnxtgen incubator programme. They will receive training and mentoring as well as the opportunity to collaborate with emerging female musicians from Kenya and Malawi. The cultural exchange presents an exciting opportunity for the participants to be inspired, tap into new audiences and create new intercultural works. By providing skills, resources and equipment, the sisnxtgen incubator programme aims to amplify women’s voices and empower the participants to participate in the cultural and creative economy.