The Connect & Create Mentoring Scheme pairs early-career professionals who support artists (managers, producers, booking agents, administrators, communicators) with experienced mentors based in Africa or Europe. Libr’Arts runs it within Connect & Create, the EU-funded Africa–Europe culture initiative led by the Goethe-Institut and Expertise France with the Institut français.
From January to December 2027, 15 mentees work on a career plan through one-to-one sessions, quarterly online workshops and a group trip to a major cultural event in Africa.
Benefits & funding
- A €7,500 grant paid to the mentee’s organisation, for its operations and development and the mentee’s skills (e.g. equipment, software, communication or travel linked to the programme).
- One year of one-to-one mentoring, January–December 2027.
- Quarterly online skills workshops.
- Travel and accommodation covered for a four- to five-day group trip to a major event in Africa.
Eligibility
- Permanently resident in a sub-Saharan African country. The Connect & Create FAQ lists 48: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Eswatini, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
- Over 18, with no upper age limit.
- Two to five years’ experience in an intermediary role in the performing arts or music sector in Africa (management, production, booking, administration, communication).
- Affiliated with an organisation legally registered for at least one year, with an official registration document to prove it.
- Career plans in performing arts or music, and a commitment to complete the whole programme.
- No nationality requirement is stated.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Residence required
Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cameroon · Cabo Verde · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo · DR Congo
+ 36 more
Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Ethiopia · Gabon · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritius · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Eswatini · Tanzania · Gambia · Togo · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Experience required
2–5 yrs
Age requirement
≥ 18 yrs
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Application process
- 1Complete the online form in French or English by 9 October 2026, 23:59 UTC, attaching a CV, a portfolio of two to three projects from the last three years, a video of up to 3 minutes on your motivation, and proof of your organisation’s registration (the call is now closed).
- 2Shortlisted candidates take a 20-minute online interview between 6 and 11 November 2026.
Program timeline
Application deadline
9 October 2026
Online interviews
6–11 November 2026
Results announced
20 November 2026
Programme starts
January 2027
Programme ends
December 2027