Atleast 20 participants from the arts industry completed a one week training workshop on result oriented project management at the Rwanda Arts Initiative (RAI) premises in Kimuhurura over the weekend.  

The project kicked off on March 28 and involved participants from Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and DR Congo. The participants were equipped with skills in project management to help them generate income in arts projects like practicing cinema, performing arts, music, and literature among others.

Luc Ameye, the workshop trainer and a consultant with Africalia; a Belgian non-profit organisation that aims to promote, stimulate and disseminate African culture  told The New Times that there are a lot of challenges facing cultural activities on the continent.

"People have a wrong perception about culture, many people think it is leisure and it cannot bring employment or money. But there are many avenues of financial opportunities, we can go to financial institutions, sponsors, donors…. all these people need clear and professional projects and with these kinds of tools the operators have more opportunities to get this money,” said Ameye.

The workshop was also meant to help the operators to network which is one of the core roles of the 5 year old RAI. Dorcy Ingeli Rugamba, the founder and artistic director of RAI said the marketing of arts can’t work in isolation.

"We need a network of entrepreneurs from the East African region and the surrounding countries so we can think together on how to develop the industry. If our artistic creations are to go abroad we need to know the market and places with a culture similar to ours have the biggest market,” said Rugamba. He added that unlike other sectors the arts and culture industry doesn’t need a lot of investment, and it is a driving source of income for some countries.  

The workshop was organised by RAI and Africalia.

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