Connect & Create Opens Mentorship Applications for African Music and Performing-Arts Professionals
African music and performing-arts professionals looking to grow their careers beyond their local markets have a new opportunity to explore, but the application deadline is fast approaching.
Connect & Create, a program supporting cultural ties between Africa and Europe, is accepting applications for a mentoring scheme aimed at early-career professionals working in the music and performing-arts industries. Applications close on October 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. UTC.
The program will select 15 professionals living and working in sub-Saharan Africa for a year-long mentoring experience scheduled to run from January to December 2027.
Unlike opportunities designed exclusively for performers, this program focuses on the people who help creative work reach audiences: the managers, producers, administrators, distributors and communications professionals working behind the scenes.
Who Can Apply for Connect & Create?
The mentoring scheme is designed for professionals with two to five years of experience in artist-support roles within the music and performing-arts sectors.
Eligible areas of work include:
- Artist management and artist support.
- Music and performing-arts production.
- Distribution and circulation of creative work.
- Arts administration.
- Communications and related professional roles.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and permanent residents of sub-Saharan Africa. They must also be affiliated with an organization that has held legal status for at least one year.
Applications may be submitted in English or French.
These requirements make the program particularly relevant to emerging music-business professionals, independent arts organizations and people building careers in the operational side of the creative industries.
Before applying, candidates should carefully review the official eligibility criteria to confirm that their professional role and organizational affiliation qualify.
What Does the Mentoring Program Offer?
The program will pair the 15 selected participants with experienced mentors based in Africa or Europe.
Running from January through December 2027, the initiative is expected to include quarterly group workshops and a group immersion trip.
The idea is to help participants strengthen their professional skills, learn from experienced practitioners and build connections that could support their work across different markets.
For someone managing emerging artists, coordinating live performances or helping independent musicians distribute their work, access to experienced industry professionals can be valuable.
Creative careers are often built through a combination of practical experience, relationships and an understanding of how the industry operates. Mentoring can help professionals identify gaps in their knowledge, approach their work more strategically and develop stronger networks.
Connect & Create also provides a grant to the mentees’ affiliated organizations to support organizational development and capacity building.
This is an important distinction: the organizational grant is intended to strengthen the participating organization rather than function as an unrestricted personal cash award to the mentee.
Why This Matters for African Music and the Performing Arts
African artists are increasingly reaching international audiences, but their success depends on more than performance and talent.
Managers need to negotiate opportunities and coordinate releases. Producers must organize projects and budgets. Distributors connect creative work with audiences, while communications professionals help artists and cultural organizations build visibility.
These roles become even more important when creative work crosses borders.
An artist hoping to tour internationally, for example, may need help with booking, logistics, partnerships, publicity and distribution. A performing-arts organization seeking international collaborations must understand how to develop relationships with venues, programmers and potential partners.
Developing the professionals who handle these responsibilities can strengthen the wider ecosystem supporting African creativity.
Connect & Create is part of the Africa–Europe Partnerships for Culture program, funded by the European Union and led by the Goethe-Institut and Expertise France in partnership with the Institut français. The mentoring scheme is implemented by Libr’Arts.
Its emphasis on professional development and cross-border connections reflects the need for stronger relationships between cultural professionals and organizations working across Africa and Europe.
How to Apply Before the Deadline
Interested candidates should prepare the required documents before submitting their applications.
According to the official program page, applicants must provide:
- A résumé or CV.
- A portfolio showcasing two to three projects or assignments completed within the past three years.
- A video presentation and statement of motivation lasting no longer than three minutes.
- The completed online application form.
The deadline is 9 October 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UTC. That is 12:59 a.m. on 10 October in Nigeria, so applicants should avoid waiting until the last minute.
Shortlisted candidates are scheduled to participate in online interviews from November 6 to 11, with selected participants expected to be announced on November 20, 2026. The mentoring program begins in January 2027.
Applicants should use the official page to review the full requirements and access the application form.
Apply through the official Connect & Create program page
A Chance to Build the Business Side of Creativity
For professionals working behind the scenes, career development opportunities can be harder to identify than auditions, performance calls and artist showcases.
Connect & Create offers a different route: strengthening the skills and relationships of the people who help creative projects function as sustainable professional ventures.
If you work in artist management, production, distribution, arts administration or communications, and meet the eligibility requirements, this is an opportunity worth reviewing immediately.
With applications closing on October 9, the most important next step is to confirm your eligibility, prepare your portfolio and submit a complete application before the deadline.
