Visual Arts & Comedy

The Department of Culture in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage is tasked as one of the agencies to spearhead the distribution and operation of the 100 million economic stimulus programme for artists as outlined in the presidential directive. In this regard artists have been requested to supplement government efforts in combating COVID -19 and its effects by creatively engaging in the creation of artistic works that will impact on behavior change to help in flattening the curve. As you are aware the government has already outlined some steps to combat the pandemic that include frequent hand washing or sanitization, social distancing and stay at home directives among others. 

Project Objectives

  • Reinforce the existing information on the transmission mechanisms of COVID-19 and call upon the citizens to abide by the Government of Kenya and World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations on how to combat further spread of the pandemic
  • Advocate for behaviour change among Kenyans by encouraging them to frequently wash their hands with soap using running water, avoidance of contact through handshakes, hugs, kisses and so on
  • Empathize, support and inspire hope among Kenyans who have been affected by this pandemic in one way or the other.
  • Celebrate Kenya’s resilience and innovations in the management of the pandemic.
  • Keep Kenyans entertained during the together-at-home period.

Submission Criteria for Comedians and Visual Artists

  1. Must be a Kenyan citizen with a valid ID or Passport.
  2. Will be required to upload and send his/her profile to the Department of Culture official email with evidence of at least 2 previous works.
  3. Comedians should submit their synopsis of work via email in either audio or video form.
  4. Provide proof of artistic endeavour within the last six months.
  5. Must not be a beneficiary of any other funding released by the Government to fight the corona virus pandemic. Such funds could include but not limited to the royalties paid by Collective Management Organizations, cash transfers to the elderly, youth and Women
  6. Proof of vulnerability by demonstrating
    how COVID-19 has affected his/her livelihood as a cultural and Creative
    Industry practitioner.
  7. Performance should be in English, Kiswahili or any indigenous Kenyan language with subtitles.
  8. Presentations should be at least 3-10 minutes.
  9. The theme should be aligned to COVID-19 pandemic as well as those offering empathy, inspiration and hope or celebrating Kenya’s resilience during this period.
  10. Content with explicit content or that may be considered repugnant to morality shall be disqualified
  11. Content should be sensitive to language and ethnic undertones.
  12. Beneficiaries should be willing to sign release forms allowing their works to be used for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic campaign

Submission of Works

We encourage artists to work and submit their artworks in the digital format to the following  email address: submissions.culture@sportsheritage.go.ke or fill in the form below.

The deadline for submissions is 3rd June 2020.

`For more information call +254 (02) 2727980/4