Eleven Additional Heritage Organisations Selected
3 July 2026
Southern Africa Component
Entanglement workshop: South Africa
As part of its commitment to ensuring broad regional representation across the programme's six participating countries. The Southern Africa Component reopened the grant call creating an opportunity for more organisations working in heritage, arts and culture to apply. Following a competitive selection process, these 11 organisations from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe have been awarded grants of up to €55,000 to implement collaborative projects that explore, preserve and reimagine Southern Africa's rich and diverse heritage.
The selected organisations will work closely with communities, artists, cultural practitioners and heritage custodians to develop new narratives that celebrate local histories, amplify underrepresented voices and encourage dialogue across generations. Through innovative and community-led approaches, the projects will contribute to safeguarding both tangible and intangible cultural heritage while strengthening cultural participation throughout the region.
The successful organisations are:
- ASSITEJ South Africa (South Africa)
- Babukisu Foundation (Eswatini)
- Eswatini Theatre Club (Eswatini)
- GEM-Institute (Lesotho)
- Impact Fund Limited (Botswana)
- Poetavango Collective (SouthAfrica)
- Phansi Museum (Botswana)
- Sustaining Theatre and Dance Foundation (South Africa)
- The Craft and Design Institute (South Africa)
- Women and Land Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
- Youth Advocates (Zimbabwe)
Together, these organisations represent a diverse range of artistic disciplines, heritage practices and community-based initiatives, reflecting the programme's commitment to supporting inclusive and locally driven cultural projects.
A Hard and Independent Selection Process
The awarded organisations were selected through a precise assessment process conducted by an independent jury comprising experienced professionals from the heritage, arts, culture,and creative sectors across Southern Africa.
The jury carefully evaluated each application against the programme's objectives, considering factors such as artistic and cultural excellence, community engagement, innovation, sustainability, feasibility and the potential for long-term impact. Their collective expertise ensured a transparent, fair and high-quality selection process that recognised projects capable of making meaningful contributions to the region's cultural landscape.
Meet the Jury
The Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture: Southern Africa Component extends its sincere appreciation to the independent jury members whose expertise and commitment were instrumental in selecting this cohort of grantees: Gilmore Khumalo, Mamokuena Makhema, Melanie Dlamini, Nobesuthi Rayi, Tshireletso Modiwa, Memory Biwa.
Drawing on their extensive experience in heritage preservation, museum practice, research, cultural policy, the creative industries and community development, the jury brought diverse perspectives to the evaluation process and ensured that the selected projects reflect the richness and diversity of Southern Africa's cultural heritage.
The Southern Africa Component congratulates all 11 awarded organisations and looks forward to supporting them as they embark on projects that foster collaboration, strengthen cultural ecosystems and co-create new heritage narratives that resonate within communities and across borders.
Through these initiatives,the programme continues to strengthen partnerships between Africa and Europe while investing in the people, organisations and ideas that are shaping the future of Southern Africa's cultural and heritage sector.