The Vision.
Artists are uniquely positioned to affect policy change but we are rarely involved. Our work with the Job Creation Commission of Ethiopia re-imagined what could happen when artists become involved in the policy process. What we learned led to Ethiopia’s first creative policy win and we have since widened our efforts to include the Horn of Africa. Working in partnership with local organizations and international organizations we are reimagining a world that centers artists as diplomats and architects of the future.
The Mission.
Ethiopia Creates was established to serve as a voice for the creative industries dedicated to the development and advancement of the creative sector in Ethiopia. In 2023, we gained new partners that allowed our vision to grow beyond Ethiopia. We work with organizations across Africa with a focus on areas where there are barriers to growth including but not limited to access to finance, data-gaps, education and skills development, export markets, regulation and infrastructure. Our mission is driven by three core tenets: community, advocacy, and data.
COMMUNITY
We nurture, support, and build the capacity of the creative sector across Africa. We do this by providing resources, training, and convening events that position artists as leaders shaping the future. We also connect local artists to opportunities that allow them to deepen craft and reimagine what is possible.
ADVOCACY
We raise the profile of the creative industries to government and civic stakeholders as an impact agent for economic and social transformation. This work has led to an advisory practice that translates between government bodies and translocal artistic communities we work with in order to lobby, advocate, and consult on policy issues that affect artists’ livelihood across Africa.
DATA
Collecting data is how we began and research continues to be a primary focus. Making a business case for investment in the creative sector requires real numbers that are currently fragmented and hard to access. Collecting data that makes this information accessible and actionable is critical for establishing evidence-informed policy and useful to our community of practitioners who have their own uses for this data.
Contact us.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
