. . . As Culture Fund coffers run dry

FOR the first time in its existence, the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust has no funds in its coffers and is extending a begging bowl.

The fund that has been the lifeline for struggling artistes and some arts organisations may have not been able to fully support the arts industry, but it has always financed critical projects to the sector.

Culture Fund is supposed to have by now called for culture practitioners to submit their project proposals for funding in 2017, but that is yet to happen. Rather, the last grants that were issued out by Culture Fund amounted to slightly over US$1 million in 2015 stretching into 2016 under the “Culture Impacts”. The funds benefited 41 projects.

But these appear to have been the last beneficiaries, at least for now. Reports are that key financiers of the organisation that has operated for close to a decade have since pulled the plug on the arts funding establishment, consequently making it difficult for the handlers to fulfil their mandate.

Could this trigger the collapse of funddriven aspects of the local arts industry – an industry already chocking in as far as funding is concerned?

Culture Fund director Farai Mpfunya, who is on record calling for other organisations to source funds for Zimbabwean artistes, confirmed they are at an all-time low.

“We have not been in a position to call for new proposals in 2017 because no new grant funds have come to our coffers,” said Mpfunya.

“In the past we used to have dedicated money for these grants but that is not the case this year hence we are appealing to our local and international partners to help us. We are still hopeful though that something will come up.”

Mpfunya added that global political changes have hit them hard.

“For your own information, we also get rejected a number of times. Assistance comes from the business community

(though it has been on the low side over the years), Government, SADC and internationally.

“Globally, (Donald) Trump, the new president of the United States of America, has said arts are not important, so they are cutting funds in that direction; it is the same with Europe. Danish Embassy through the Danish International Development Agency (Danida), pulled the plug on us and moved to South Africa; the Norwegian Embassy, which also supported us, has done the same while Sweden says it is still assessing priority areas,” revealed Mpfunya.

The Culture Fund works within Zimbabwean society having been established in 2007 by arts and cultural stakeholders with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). Since its launch, it has received close to 10 000 applications for grants from all over the country mainly in six categories - film audiovisual multimedia, literature and languages, performing arts, fine arts and crafts, cultural industries and cultural heritage. Their open call for grants and technical support applications ensures broad access for applicants both across the country and a wide spectrum of genres.

Culture Fund is pivotal in supporting the country’s supreme arts board, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, including its programmes and a number of other important national events like Intwasa Arts Festival and Women’s Arts Festival, which respectively got US$40 000, US$17 000 and US$35 094 in the last grants disbursement.

“Hifa could not take place last year and needed a year to raise funds, resulting in them returning this year. These are indeed difficult times for everyone in the country and we are not spared but we will not stop pushing for a favourable outcome. As it stands we have nothing to offer and we will only be in a position to call for project proposals when something comes our way,” said Mpfunya.

“Our scope is too big and we need to keep it alive. We have also been working with the Government through the National Arts policy. We have taken it upon ourselves to fund some of the initiatives.” The fund is a non-profit Zimbabwean Trust overseen by a secretariat and an independent board. Expert advisors selected in different areas also come in from time to time with enhancing programming options.