The Goethe-Institut, in partnership with the European Union, has officially launched a new fund aimed at empowering cultural organisations and artists in Southern Africa. With a total budget of €6 million, the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture: Southern Africa programme is set to run for 36 months, from March 2025 to February 2028. It will fund organisations in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
The launch, held on 18 July at Flame Studios in Johannesburg, brought together representatives from cultural institutions, development agencies, and creative professionals. One of the initiative's main aims is to strengthen cultural production capacities in the region and deepen Africa-Europe cultural exchanges.
Focus on collaboration and heritage
At the heart of the initiative is the co-creation of new heritage narratives, with calls for proposals to be opened on 28 July 2025 for heritage projects. A second call targeting over 140 artists and creatives from the six participating countries is planned for February 2026. These collaborations will culminate in more than 40 co-productions that will be presented both locally and internationally.
Building capacity for sustainable cultural production
The programme also places strong emphasis on capacity building, with activities including country-based workshops, expert-led sessions on gender, inclusion, and sustainability, and the establishment of an expert bureau offering access to historians, researchers and cultural consultants. Three networking events for heritage organisations are also planned to foster knowledge exchange and strategic partnerships.
Growing audiences and regional mobility
To increase visibility for Southern African cultural heritage, a range of audience development activities will be rolled out. These include a week-long presentation festival, a travelling festival supported by sub-grants, artist mobilities, and online showcases. The programme will culminate in three final events in different countries to celebrate the shared outputs.
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