In our Creative Economy initiatives, we prioritize sectors with immense potential, such as fashion and design. This selection is influenced by the growing interest in sustainable fashion and design, as well as the successful collaborations we have formed with local and UK partners in recent projects since 2021-2022. We also seek to expand collaborations and develop showcasing programs with our local and UK partners, aiming to support the business growth and development of young designers in Senegal.
Creative Economy
Senegal Creative Economy alumni mapping
Senegal Alumni mapping report 2022/2023
Through our CEP training since 2018, the British Council has established itself as a prominent force in the creative economy, particularly in terms of providing essential business support. With an impressive number of over 250 young individuals trained, our commitment to nurturing talent and empowering the creative sector is evident.
To gain a deeper understanding of the creative sector's needs, we conducted an alumni mapping exercise, yielding the following insightful results:
- An overwhelming 98 per cent expressed satisfaction with the workshop outcomes and practical tools, such as the business pitch, business canvas, and customer values table. This indicates a strong demand for business-oriented and practical training that equips young creatives with the skills to thrive in the market, stand out from the competition, and secure funding.
- Additionally, 74 per cent revealed that they had not received any financial support since completing the training yet expressed a genuine desire for such assistance. We are eager to foster relationships with local investors, funders, and organizations who share our vision of supporting young creatives on the financial front. By collaborating with them on future projects, we can provide the necessary resources to bolster their businesses.
These findings reinforce our dedication to bridging the gap between creative talent and business support, and we remain committed to empowering young creatives through relevant training and strategic partnerships. With over 250 young individuals trained, our commitment to nurturing talent and empowering the creative sector is evident.
To know more about the report click the link below:
Creative DNA Africa: London fashion week delegation
Creative DNA Africa is a new programme which saw a London residency of 7 leading and sustainable brands and designers from across Sub-Saharan Africa who travelled to London for London Fashion Week in February 2023. This project, a partnership between the British Council and Fashion Scout, gave the opportunity to designers and brands to deepen connections and create new collaborations between creatives from the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The programme saw the designers and brands from 7 countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe come to London from 14th to 20th February to gain better knowledge of the UK fashion industry, create networks and introduce themselves and their work internationally.
Curated by Fashion Scout, it culminated with an installation and exhibition at Fashion Scout during London Fashion Week (16th – 19th February) where each designer showcased two pieces.
SoCreative e-learning
with our So Creative Economy e-module offer – and our existing partnership with local lead-organisations, we aim at building an ecosystem where young creatives can develop their capacity, share information, improve knowledge and build new relationships.
Fashion and design acceleration programme
The primary objective of this programme is to foster connections between the UK and Senegalese creative sectors while providing essential support to sector-support organisations. Through this initiative, we aim to deliver training, mentoring, and business development opportunities to young, aspiring fashion entrepreneurs in Senegal.
Strategically designed, this programme forms a crucial part of our long-term blended learning approach, aimed at supporting young individuals with improved work and entrepreneurship prospects. By investing in their growth, we seek to open doors to new and enhanced opportunities for the youth in Senegal.
Culture Connects
Culture Connects programme is driven by our dedication to fostering creative collaborations and facilitating connections among cultural professionals. We firmly believe that these interactions play a pivotal role in empowering local artists to expand their networks, exchange knowledge, and reach new audiences on an international scale.
In line with this objective, our primary focus is to provide young creatives with increased access to collaborative grants. This enables them to embark on cross-cultural projects alongside their UK counterparts within their respective sectors, be it fashion, music, film, or visual arts. By sharing opportunities for these initiatives, we aim to catalyze meaningful exchanges and promote the growth of mutually beneficial partnerships.
To ensure the efficacy of these endeavors, we diligently track the progress of top projects. Through ongoing assessment and analysis, we develop comprehensive case studies that showcase the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from these collaborations. This allows us to identify best practices and provide valuable insights that inform future initiatives and contribute to the overall advancement of the creative sector.