Associação Raiz di Polon was founded in 1991 as one of the many dance groups of the Cape Verdean Islands. Through time it has grown into a structure that promotes contemporary dance from Cape Verde, educates young talent and preserves the cultural heritage of the different islands of the archipelago. Raiz di Polon has been a pioneer in the promotion of contemporary dance in Cape Verde and has toured extensively abroad. The organization aspires to continue working to foster an atmosphere conducive to uncompromised artistic creation and creativity through the dance company and to increase awareness of the importance of cultural identity and the production and sharing of artistic creations as an end in and of itself, as important to development and social cohesion as poverty reduction, formal education and health.
The Cultural Development Trust is a South African non-governmental organization that provides arts management training, information and support. The Trust registered in 2002. Its aims is to assist both emerging and established artists and artist groups in Southern Africa. The organization provides advice, training, development and consultancy in the field of management, administration, fundraising, marketing, publicity and profile-building.
Escuela Contemporánea de Músicas (ECM) is a school for musicians where they practise traditional Bolivian music. ECM is located in La Paz.
Fontys Academy for Creative Industries, part of Fontys University, Tilburg is one of the two partners of the network that is an academic institution and plays a big role in capacity building aspects of our work.
Based in Segou, Mali, Foundation Sur Le Niger runs various cultural programmes including the acclaimed the Festival Sur Le Niger held annually in Segou.
IBISS is a Brasilian non-profit organization that strives at contributing to building a healthy society in which all people have access to public (health) services, in which disease and social inequality are eradicated and human rights respected. IBISS is fighting against social exclusion. The organization operates from a holistic approach and invests in small scale innovative projects. IBISS works with target groups that are hard to reach, youth in the favelas in Rio de Janeiro. The organization uses a wide range of cultural activities as a tool for reaching their objectives.
The Kalakar Trust is a non-profit organization working towards the improvement of the lives of needy artists in Delhi’s slums. The Trust was founded in 1992 and has grown to benefit more than 2,600 families of mostly puppeteers, dancers, musicians, acrobats and magicians. The aim of the Trust is to keep the traditional arts of these artist communities alive and improve their standard of living by providing them with basic services they have identified.
The Morija Arts and Cultural Festival was first held in 1999. The main objective of this festival is to bring people of different views and background together to celebrate the diverse cultural heritage of Lesotho at the beginning of the 21st Century. The intention of the festival is to provide a showcase of Sesotho culture, reviving certain aspects of it which are waning, boost tourism and to encourage craftsellers and smallscale manufacturers. It is an opportunity for Basotho (ethnic group) of all ages and backgrounds to demonstrate the richness of their culture and, at the same time, to experience the culture of neighbours and other residents of Lesotho.
Mundial Productions, a cultural enterpreneurship organisation based in Tilburg Netherlands is best known for the world renowned Festival Mundial. It is through Mundial Productions that the network originally came together in 2007 under the then “Mundial on Tour” programme.
Ngaari Laaw is a Senegalese association for education and sustainable development that was created in 1989. The association deals with themes that most Senegalese people struggle with, such as food sufficiency, environment, alphabetizing and hiv/aids. In 2001 the association created a festival that carries a different theme every year and travels through the region of Fouta and Walo to sensitize the people through artistic performances. Ngaari Laaw fights through music against female genital mutilation.
The Noyam African Dance Institute was founded in 1998 and is in the fore front of dance development in Ghana today. Noyam aims at extending the traditional practice of dance and providing a much needed dance education outside the University system in Ghana. The Institute’s work also includes the sensitization of the general public about the need for professional dance practice in Ghana. Noyam uses the power of dance, and the arts generally, to address social issues and to instil in the youth the necessary level of consciousness, empowerment and the creative ability needed for social development.
Sarakasi Trust is a Performing Arts Development Trust that aims to respond to the need for further development and promotion of culture and arts in East-Africa. The Kenyan Trust was established in Nairobi in 2001 and strives to economically empower the artists they work with and give them tools to more effectively mobilize their lives. Most artists that are attached to Sarakasi Trust originate from slum areas in Nairobi. Sarakasi Trust aims at bringing the best of Kenyan creativity to the widest possible audience by organizing festivals and events, cultural exchanges and international tours. Furthermore, Sarakasi Trust empowers the artist by providing social development programs, training and capacity building programs and cultural awareness programs. Together with other partners, Sarakasi Trust also implements special programs like the Sawa Sawa music label, Dubbelleuk Nairobi, North Sea Jazz Nairobi, Ghetto Radio, Sarakasi Trust Hospital program and the Umoja Flying Carpet cultural program. Sarakasi Trust aims to promote its objectives in East-Africa and beyond and in this way to further the social, economic and cultural development of society. Sarakasi Trust is run on a non-profit basis.
UCAD is a Rwandese organisation that was created in 1999 at the National University of Rwanda. Physically distanced from the main university premises, UCAD stands on its own as a high education and production entity that deals with dance, theatre and drama. UCAD concentrates on teaching principles and polishing training of young and aspiring artists. Their mission is to prevent and manage conflict and promote positive values through the strategy of cultural actions, communicating socially through arts;promoting talent at the national level; diversifying arts at the University and at the national level, by increasing the technical potential of artists and their training; spreading Rwandan culture at the national, regional and international level.
