The European Commission, in partnership with the Commissions of UEMOA and ECOWAS funds 11 projects to support the development of the cultural sector in West Africa within the framework of the project "Regional Fund for the Promotion of Cooperation and Cultural Exchanges in West Africa", for a total amount of 2.269.554 €.

This support is granted within the comprehensive framework of the accompaniment of the integration process implemented by UEMOA and ECOWAS Commissions.
The overall objective of the project is to support the development of the exchanges, the networks and the cooperation between the cultural actors of the area with the prospect of building a community-based cultural center.
The specific objectives are: (I) to develop synergies, complementarities, collaborations and partnerships between the cultural actors of the area; (II) to increase the circulation and the valorization of the actors, works and cultural information within the area.

The available fund of 2. 280.000 € was split into two shares:
- share 1: 1.500.000 € for integrated and multi-year actions aiming at the development of poles, interesting the actors of several countries and contributing to the development of the exchanges;
- share 2: 780.000 € relating to innovative or exemplary specific actions with multiplier effects on the development of exchanges and cooperation in the area.

In response to the call, the UGP received 178 projects proposed by the actors of thirteen countries out of the sixteen concerned with the project. By the end of the various stages of evaluation in accordance with the 9th EDF procedures, 11 projects were selected for financing for an overall amount of 2.269.554 €. These projects are distributed as follows:
- Group 1: 8 projects relating to multi-year actions for a total amount of 1.869 199.020 €,
- Group 2: 3 projects relating to specific actions for a total amount of 400.355 €.

The financed actions relate mainly to the access and participation of the largest number of West African citizens in culture; the reinforcement, the valorization and the sharing of the expertise in the area (artistic, technical and management skills); the development of creation with a special emphasis both on the revitalization of traditional techniques and knowledge (contemporary approach of the tradition) and on the development of new forms of expression, related namely, to new technologies; the development of the diversified patrimony of the area, as well as the common heritage.




FINANCED PROJECTS


GROUP 1

Applicant: Agbo N'Koko (Benin)
Heading of the action: Présence au pluriel
Partner: Rencontre des continents.
Places of the action: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Senegal, Niger, Togo.
Amount of the grant: 277.376 €.
This project is devoted to the dissemination of cultural information through the edition and the circulation of a bimonthly panafrican cultural review, the creation of an Internet site and a WEB-BASED TV dedicated to art and culture in ECOWAS space.

Applicant : Atelier Mar (Cap Verde)
Heading of the action : Métiers Traditionnels et design
Partners : Conservatoire des Arts er Métiers Multimédia Balla Fasseké Kouyaté (Mali), Accents Multiples, Synergies Contemporaine (Sénégal)
Places of the action: Cap Verde, Mali and Senegal
Amount of the grant: 237.301 €.

An initiative around exchange workshops between the craftsmen and designers of the three countries - common work of productions, exhibitions - the production of supports such as books, catalogues, website, video - a training on marketing, on design and on intellectual property issues.

Applicant : DOC. NET FILMS (France)
Heading of the action: Distribution and dissemination of West African documentary films of creation in the sub-region
Partners : Réseau Associations du Cinéma Numérique Ambulant (Burkina Faso, Mali, Benin et Niger), Association Ciné nomade (France), Maison des cinéastes en Mauritanie, Institut de Formation aux technologies de l'Information et de la Communication (Niger), Université Gaston Berger (Sénégal),
Associate: Doc. Net Africa (Senegal) editor and distributor
Places of the action: Burkina Faso, Benin, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Mauritania, France, and Belgium
Amount of the grant: 113.619 €.
The project relates to the organization of the travelling projections of 36 documentaries of the program, in town and in rural area, in Burkina Faso, in Benin, in Mali and Niger and in Mauritania, with systematized payment of the films' exploitation rights to the authors and producers - the provision of the media centers of the two partner-universities, with 36 documentary DVD - the distribution and the selling of West African documentary DVD in France, in Belgium and in Africa - the organization of meetings between partners

Applicant : Ardèche Images
Heading of the project : Réseau de formation au film documentaire de création en Afrique de l'Ouest (Network for the training to creation documentary films in West Africa)
Partners : Centre National de Production Audiovisuelle (Togo), Institut de Formation aux technologies de l'Information et de la Communication (Niger), Université Gaston Berger de Saint Louis (Sénégal), Instituto National de Cinema e Audiovisual (Guinée Bissau).
Associates : Africadoc Sénégal, Burkina Faso, Mauritanie, Mali, Togo, Centre National de la Cinématographie du Mali, La Maison des Cinéastes Mauritanie.
Places of the action: Senegal, Niger, Togo, Mali, Guinea Bissau
Amount of the grant: 225.884 €.
The project relates to the organization of a certain number of residences (meetings) on a regional scale- residence on writing in 4 countries - annual residence - residence on the theme of the feature film - support for the production of end-of-study films with professional quality - creation of tools enabling an inventory, a follow-up and a greater visibility of West African documentary films projects.

Applicant: Association for the Valorization of West Africa masks (Burkina Faso)
Heading of the action: Valorization of West Africa masks.
Partners : Association Towara (Benin), Mutuelle de Moayé Gbofia (Côte d'Ivoire), Mission Culturelle de Badiangara (Mali), Association jeunesse Perspectives, Groupement au Benin, Théâtre OSHUMARE (Benin)
Associates : Association Nationale Cultures et Traditions (France), ASAMA (France)
Places of the action: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinée Conakry, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo
Amount of the grant: 239.697 €.
A research proposal on masks - organization of symposium- touring exhibition- initiations in dances and musics organized by the societies of mask members of the association - determination of tourist tours focused on masks.

Applicant: West African Museums Programs
Heading of the action: Training of trainers in the conservation of textiles and the setting-up of exhibitions in West Africa museums
Partner: British Museum (United Kingdom)
Associates : Museum of Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Niger, Sierra Leone, Guinée Bissau.
Place of the action: Niger
Amount of the grant: 279.991 €.
The project relates to valorization and the conservation of textiles, the activities planned are the training of trainers in the conservation of textiles - the preparation and the development of a documentary film - the setting-up of exhibitions and the production of a handy guide on the conservation of textiles.

Applicant : Ecole du Patrimoine Africain (School of African Patrimony) (Benin).
Heading of the action: Reinforcement of West Africa Cultural Establishments Network
Partner : Observatoire des Politiques Culturelles en Afrique. (Observatory of Cultural Policies in Africa).
Places of the action: Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo.
Amount of the grant: 259.985 €.
The project relates to the identification and the training of organizers, - networking of the cultural establishments of the countries mentioned - putting information on cultural establishments on line.

Applicant: Tringa Music and Development (Senegal)
Heading of the action: Africa Fête Talent
Partners: Umane culture (Burkina Faso), Amicale des Artistes pour le Progrès (Association of Artists for Progress) (Benin), Association Mass Production (Guinée Conakry).
Places of the action: Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Benin.
Amount of the grant: 235.343 €.
The project establishes the link between new technologies and development of music industry: on line selling, search for partners - launching of a self-financing process of works - development of supports: TV, audio, web








SHARE 2

Applicant : Cie Naforoba (Côte d'Ivoire)
Heading of the action: H20 paroles d'eau.
Associates : La Maison de la parole (Burkina Faso), ATC Théâtre (Guinée), LIMPED (Libéria), Maison de contes et de Théâtre (Niger), Body Guard studio (Sierra Leone), Maison du conte (France).
Places of the action: Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cap Verde
Amount of the grant: 126.430 €.
H2O relates to the collection of tales and stories on water-related myths and legends in the villages and cities of the seven countries concerned with the project; the making of a documentary film - of CD- the creation of an Internet site, the drafting of tales collections in French, English and Portuguese - the creation of a musical tale spectacle - tales festival in the three communication languages of ECOWAS space.

Applicant: Espace Culturel Gambidi (Burkina Faso)
Heading of the action : Festival du Théâtre des Marionnettes de Ouagadougou -FITMO
Partners : Association Culture du quartier du Mali, Compagnie Koykoyo (Niger)
Places of the action: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
Amount of the grant: 134.511€.
It is the 12th edition of the festival and it plans to stage 25 French-speaking and English-speaking companies of theater, dance, music, puppets coming from several African countries - exhibitions of visual arts - projection of films professional meetings - technical training of cultural actors- Conferences and Colloquiums.

Applicant : Association du Théâtre de la Fraternité (Togo)
Heading of the action : Festival du Théâtre de la Fraternité - FESTHEF- Partners : Anopée Théâtre (France), Atelier Mobile de Théâtre Avêmian (Benin), Cie Arène Théâtre (Niger), Cie Théâtre Eclair (Burkina Faso),
Associates : Agence Terre Culture (Togo)
Place of the action: Togo
Amount of the grant: 139.414€
It is the 11th edition of the festival, the programming relates to drama and tales spectacles - street drama - professional meetings, training colloquiums and workshops - authors meetings - edition of dramatic and literary works.