African Arts Institute offers cultural training course

An initiative of the African Arts Institute in partnership with the Goethe-Institut, the Southern African training hub will host a three-year training programme in cultural leadership, governance and entrepreneurship. It will host candidates from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

Similar training hubs will be established in Morocco, serving six North Africa countries; in Senegal, serving 15 West African countries; in Cameroon, serving nine Central African countries; and in Kenya, serving 13 East African countries.

Focusing on cultural leadership

Southern African candidates can now apply to participate in training at the Johannesburg hub which will be based at the Goethe-Institut. Train-the-Trainer sessions focusing on cultural leadership and covering arts advocacy, marketing, fundraising and project management, will be presented from 13 to 19 May.

Training will be facilitated using a series of toolkits on these subjects, developed by Arterial Network (AN) in 2011. AN is a continental network of arts professionals with representation in 34 African countries. The programme is aimed at training trainers in the use of these toolkits, and for these trainers to return to their respective countries and train others.

Applications should include a typed letter of motivation highlighting previous experience as a trainer and a commitment to working as a trainer; information pertaining to and elaborating on practical experience in at least one training area, advocacy, marketing, fundraising or project management; three reference letters applicable to your training experience; and a clear indication of whether you are applying for a bursary, with a brief motivation. The course is limited to 20 applicants and ten bursaries will be provided.

Applications must be sent to az.gro.iafa@ofni before 13 April 2012 and successful applicants will be notified by 20 April.