About

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Scripts and Bars is an exciting creative incubation and accelerator programme that brought together both Zimbabwe and UK expertise and knowledge in two key sectors (Literature and Music) to support capacity development and partnerships. The overall aim of the programme is to support resilience of creative organisations, Hubs, and individual creatives by building competencies and strengthening them.

From 2022 to 2024, the programme supported 150 emerging music and literature creatives and entrepreneurs from across Zimbabwe, 49% being women and young people from underrepresented communities. The programme delivered 15+ masterclasses and networking events, awarded 34 grants, provided market access opportunities and has led to the creation of more than 109 digital products as well as 145+ job opportunities. It reached more than 2 million people digitally through radio and social media engagement. 60% of project beneficiaries have reported growth in income from their creative work after participating in the project.

This project was delivered by Kay Media collaborating with Reprezent (UK) working with creative hubs such as Comexposed, Khura Agency, Thando Book Club and Page Poetry Alive. The project is supported by the Swiss Embassy in Zimbabwe and British Council Cultural Economy programme, which supports cultural organisations, festivals, artists, and creatives between the countries of SSA and the UK to create art, build networks, collaborate, and develop markets and share artists’ work with audiences

Indigo at Sofar Kigali

S&B Creative Hustle

S&B Ditto workshop

S&B show

Projects in Numbers

Beneficiaries

Percent Women Beneficiaries

Grants Disbursed (USD 100,000+ in total value in Value)

Creative organisations

Digital Content Pieces Created

Events

Digital Reach

Video Views

(USD) Invested by project partners

Percent Average Growth in Revenue

people reached through radio, Tv and Print media

Media and Press Features

Project Partners

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is Switzerland’s international cooperation agency within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). In operating with other federal offices concerned, SDC is responsible for the overall coordination of development activities and cooperation with Eastern Europe, as well as for the humanitarian aid delivered by the Swiss Confederation.

The goal of development cooperation is that of reducing poverty. It is meant to foster economic self-reliance and state autonomy, to contribute to the improvement of production conditions, to help in finding solutions to environmental problems, and to provide better access to education and basic healthcare services.

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education, and the English language. Last year we reached over 80 million people directly and 791 million people overall including online broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive a 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government.

A modern African multimedia production studio and creative consultancy specializing in animation, audio, interactive media as well as arts and cultural programming. While based in Harare Zimbabwe, Kay Media Africa takes advantage of the possibilities provided by technology to serve clients across the globe.
Utilizing the breadth of African ideas, skill and identity Kay Media Africa helps story tellers, brands, creatives, and development organizations engage with and inspire their target audiences.

Broadcasting since 2011, and now from 3 shipping containers in Brixton, Reprezent Radio prides itself on its forward-thinking underground music. Reprezent’ s DJ’s and presenters all work in the music industry; produce their own music, run their own labels and club nights- meaning the station’s sound is always on the cutting edge of music- across every single genre imaginable.

Comexposed is the organisation behind the Zimbabwean Digital Arts, Technology and Innovation Convention, Converge. Comexposed is the collective effort of digital artists and creators in Zimbabwe showcasing their work, progress, and dreams and aims to bring together Zimbabwean digital creators under one banner to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing and growth in skills. To this end, Comexposed has built a community of digital creators breaking the boundaries in Zimbabwe, Africa and the World.

Khura Agency is an A2B AGENCY – ARTIST TO BUSINESS agency helping artists do business creatively & efficiently. Khura provides the final connection with their audience, the smarter approach in the creative hustle.

Page Poetry Alive (PPA) is a poetry collective that nurtures storytellers from page poets to Spoken Word artists with a focus on Youth Development and explorative work.
Founded in March 2017, PPA has become a hub for the growth of brands within the arts and culture sectors. It started as a hub serving a community of creatives from in and around Harare, but it has now spread to areas outside Zimbabwe and beyond: working with artists from Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, UK, Barbados, Malawi, USA, Mauritius and Zambia. The main aim being to practice art coexistence and encourage experimental work while facilitating exchange across art forms.