MAUREEN ANZAYE
What You Need to Know
Kenya’s creative economy is rapidly growing, with potential to double its GDP contribution from 5% to 10%. However, funding challenges hinder talent utilization. Small grants, ranging from £5,000 to £50,000, are emerging as vital tools for fostering innovation and cross-cultural exchange, enabling grassroots organizations and artists to thrive.
Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya’s creative economy is brimming with potential. It is growing faster than conventional industries and recent studies indicate that Kenya’s creative economy has the potential to double its contribution to GDP from the current 5% to upwards of 10%. From theatre shows and fashion, architectural design to digital narratives, the nation is brimming with talent and culture driven by energetic young people.
However, this rich source of human resources in creativity has, in many cases, not been utilised fully due to lack of funding and poor infrastructure. Conventional financing models do not take into account the peculiarities of the creative industry and as a result, many talented people do not have the resources to grow their businesses.
There is a quiet revolution occurring, though. One that will not be driven by big investments or legislation, but by little grants that are accomplishing large change. These grants are becoming a vital tool for enabling cross-cultural exchange, innovation, and sustainable creative enterprises.
The small grants, which usually range between £5,000 – £50,000, may not seem to be much in comparison to large-scale funding projects but they have tremendous effects, especially for creative practices in emerging economies such as Kenya.
By lowering barriers to entry, small grants are the essential pre-starter capital that gets grassroots organisations off their feet. This is especially crucial for Kenyan artists and groups which are considered high risk groups by traditional financiers such as banks and private investors.
Culture Responds to Global Challenges is one of four pillars of the British Council’s work in the Arts. Programmes under this pillar focus on the transformative power of arts and culture. It supports artistic and cultural expression recognising its potential to challenge and change mindsets for a more inclusive and sustainable future. We do this by supporting artists and creative organisations to respond to social and environmental issues through arts, culture, and heritage.
Braid Fund, which directly sits under the Culture Responds pillar, was implemented due to a noticeable gap that we saw in the heritage sector, where small grants were quickly being phased off by limited opportunities for early career practitioners in Kenya and East Africa in general.
For instance, the British Council Catalyst Grant programme recently provided £5,000 in funding to the Kenya International Theatre Festival. This investment, which is part of the UK/Kenya Season 2025 programme, facilitated the development of innovative theatre productions between Kenya and UK based artists. Successful implementation of the initial phase of the project enabled subsequent provision of a £10,000 grant to continue the festival’s collaboration with the Jermyn Street Theatre of London.
Small grants also provide room for experimentation. While major funding organisations may require demonstration of past success before investing, small grants enable creatives to test ideas, innovate, improve, and create ground-breaking work.
In 2024, the British Council’s Catalyst Grant programme enabled 19 projects by UK and Kenya based creatives across a range of disciplines including sustainable fashion, digital storytelling, and trans-national music genres. This funding allowed the creators to test their ideas and gather steam at their initial stage of development.
Additionally, minor grants are keen on enhancing cross-border partnerships. As part of the UK/Kenya Season 2025 festival of cultural exchange, these grants are guiding the passage between artists from the two countries and facilitating long-term partnerships between the beneficiary individuals, organisations, and institutions. These partnerships not only consolidate artistic networks but also set an example of how British and Kenyan creatives could work together in the future.
Small grants produce sustainable value beyond immediate implementation of a project by building capacity, economic development and advancing cultural diplomacy. In the process, artists acquire project management, fundraising and international cooperation skills with successful projects creating jobs and gaining access to additional investment. Such UK-Kenya collaborations also deepen understanding between the two nations and open up new markets thus demonstrating the functionality of culture in international relations.
The British Council’s Braid Arts & Culture Fund further cascades these efforts across the East Africa region. Developed through a collaboration between the Trust for Indigenous Culture & Health (TICAH) and the British Council’s Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth programme, the fund strategically bridges traditional heritage with contemporary innovation.
The initiative’s impact extends across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, with 23 projects supported in its inaugural cohort. The Fund creates crucial opportunities for individual artists, cultural practitioners and organisations who often face limited access to financing. By partnering with TICAH, the programme ensures culturally sensitive and community-rooted approaches to creative development.
Notable outcomes of this initiative include the democratisation of access to funding, preservation of indigenous cultural practices while encouraging modern artistic expression and building sustainable creative economies. The fund strengthens regional cultural networks, enabling knowledge exchange between practitioners across borders. This initiative also addresses the critical funding gap in East Africa’s cultural sector, empowering creatives to develop innovative projects that celebrate heritage while addressing contemporary social challenges, ultimately contributing to the region’s cultural vitality and economic growth.
The creative economy is not waiting for transformation, it is already happening, one small grant at a time. The task now is to scale these models, replicate the successes and create a more enabling environment for artists, curators, storytellers, and cultural entrepreneurs across the country. In doing so, we not only unlock economic potential but also elevate artists’ voices on the global cultural stage.
Small grants. Big change. That is the story of Kenya’s creative resurgence.
The Author is the Programme Manager, Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Growth at the British Council, Kenya.
Kenya’s creative economy has been gaining traction, driven by a youthful population eager to express their talents across various fields, including arts, fashion, and digital media. Despite its potential, the sector has faced significant hurdles, particularly in accessing funding and resources, which has limited the growth of many creative initiatives.
In response to these challenges, organizations like the British Council have stepped in to provide small grants aimed at supporting emerging artists and cultural practitioners. These grants not only help bridge the funding gap but also encourage collaboration and innovation, fostering a more vibrant creative landscape in Kenya and beyond.
Source: The Star
