Now that digital content creation is no longer a novelty, how can professional content creators stay ahead of the curve?
In an age where people are more inclined to watch a film than read a novel, how can writers keep from becoming obsolete?
These are just some of the questions that the Digital Conclave mentorship program helped local creatives answer.
About Digital Conclave
Digital Conclave is an enhanced mentorship program featuring Zimbabwean and UK influencers and renowned content creators who participate as mentors with the aim of “supporting capacity development and partnerships” while conducting network building activities in the form of events, panel discussions and presentations attracting international audiences.
Delivered by Kay Media Africa and UK-based Reprezent (UK), Scripts and Bars is a digital content creation programme that brings together 100 creatives from Zimbabwe and UK to deliver collaborative artwork across the Music and Literature sectors. The project is supported by the 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, in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
The project seeks to enhance the digital content creation capacity and enterprise skills of creatives and arts organisations in Zimbabwe whilst strengthening their livelihoods, supporting job creation and increasing their access to networks.
What Went Down
The Digital Conclave mentorship program took place in June 2022 over four weeks.
The program saw 12 selected creatives from a variety of fields get mentored by renowned content creators including Tik-Tok and Instagram social media influencer, Michelle Nativel, acclaimed writer who is working on a pan-African sci-fi animation called Azania Rises, Musekiwa Samuriwo and ZiFM radio personality, Amard.
Over the course of four weeks the mentees and mentors took part in Whatsapp discussions geared toward helping the 12 creatives enhance their own content creation as well as complete an assigned digital content creation project.
The participants also took part in exclusive Twitter Space Discussions that covered topics including How to be an African Writer in a Digital Age, How to Find Your Unique Angle on Social Media and How to Leverage Broadcasting For Publicity, all of which were led by the afore mentioned acclaimed content creators.
The participants, and public alike, were given the opportunity to ask questions about content creation, gain insight into the local creative industry and improve their personal digital content creation skills.
During her Twitter Space, Michelle Nativel reminded listeners that “If you are consistent…and work on your craft” you are guaranteed to get further in your content creation and that “it doesn’t have to be through a qualification or spending any extra money,” as some creatives mistakenly believe.
Her words undoubtedly served as encouragement for creatives navigating their own personal digital content creation.
Writer, Musekiwa Samuriwo also had a positive outlook to share about the local creative industry stating that, “Zim has a new trajectory…and there is potential for an industry”.
It will just take these local creatives stepping out in confidence and with the skills they have gained to build and succeed in that industry. Thanks to the Digital Conclave mentorship program, they will be equipped to do just that.
About Comexposed
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.
About the British Council
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. http://www.britishcouncil.org/
About Khura Agency
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.
About Reprezent
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.
About Page Poetry Alive
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.