Kuonyesha Art Fund 2026/2027 Grants
Pan-African grants up to $5,000 for artists supporting creative expression and critical engagement with societal issues across multiple disciplines.
The Kuonyesha Art Fund is now accepting applications for 2026 and 2027 grants designed to support and develop art projects across Africa. This initiative encourages creative expression and critical engagement with societal issues through funding for diverse artistic disciplines.
The fund supports projects in multiple creative fields including music and dance, visual arts (painting, sculpture, crafts), fashion and product design, literature and publishing, audio-visual arts (animation, new media), theatre and film, folklore and spoken word arts, research, and multi-disciplinary cross-cutting projects. Exhibitions and arts dissemination projects are also eligible.
Eligible applicants include artists of all ages living and working in Africa, whether established artists with proven track records or emerging artists exploring new concepts. The fund welcomes applications from artists seeking support to progress developed ideas, improve work quality through research and training, or acquire necessary equipment.
Applications are evaluated based on artistic quality and originality, relevance and engagement with socio-political issues, audience reach and engagement strategies, collaboration and innovation potential, and accessibility in underserved or new spaces. Residency in Africa is required, and projects must be implementable within the 2026 and 2027 cycle.
Applications require submission of supporting materials including three to ten images or short video clips showcasing the work or project idea. There is no application fee, making this an accessible opportunity for African creatives across all artistic disciplines.