Art for Social Change

Description

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This project will use the arts as a vehicle to promote social change and economic empowerment among vulnerable youth in the coastal region. More specifically, the project will build the professional capacity of the participants, develop their hard skills with the goal of gainful employment in their respective fields, and teach them how to be leaders and agents of social change in their communities. The participants may include but are not limited to dancers, poets, authors, musicians, playwrights, and fine artists. The project supports the Embassy’s strategic goals of improving governance and supporting economic prosperity through outreach, engagement, and training to disaffected and at-risk youth. The project will foster the critical and constructive roles that art plays in the socio-political context, promote civic dialogue, and stimulate economic growth through arts entrepreneurship. Ideal partners include organizations that use art to influence social change; performing artists(musicians, actors, poets, singers, and street performers) who mentor youth,women and other marginalized populations; and NGOs who work with youth, using the arts as a means to bridge social gaps and to prevent engagement in harmful and destructive activities. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to design and implement a program(s)to identify and train young artists in counties along the Kenyan coast to build their capacity and promote their talents. Priority Region: Kenyan coast Program Objectives: The project implementers will identify upcoming artists and performers, train them in arts entrepreneurship and give them the tools they need to be able to succeed in the industry. Specifically, the project should: 1) Identify and train at least 500 vulnerable youth – 15 to 35 years old. 2) Prioritize gender balance among participants. 3) Develop participants’ leadership and communication skills. 4) Teach the participants’ technical and business skills, intellectual property rights, and marketing strategies, including the use of social media as a marketing tool. 5) Promote community service and volunteerism. 6) Build a mentorship program with established Kenyan artists. 7) Liaise with the tourist industry for employment opportunities. 8) Encourage participants to submit business proposals up to $1,000 – top 3 receive funding. 9) Utilize resources from U.S. government alumni. 10) Produce a final art performance. Participants and Audiences: The target audiences should include acrobats, dancers, poets, authors, playwrights,musicians, and fine artists. The project grantee(s) should pay special attention to youth and female audiences.

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