CREATIVE LINK
Creative Links – Performing Arts for Young Audiences and Democracy is a project dedicated to the development of performing arts for young audiences in Rwanda, linked to issues of citizenship and democracy.
Coordinated by the French Institute of Rwanda, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut, Ishyo Arts Centre, and the Embassy of Luxembourg, the project is funded by EUNIC under the Spaces of Culture program.
A project serving youth and democracy
Creative Links aims to harness the potential of performing arts to encourage creativity, self-expression, and civic engagement among young people.
Through artistic and educational activities, the project provides young audiences with a space to:
• Imagine shared futures
• Question social norms
• Develop critical thinking
• Actively participate in civic life
The goal is to foster social cohesion and stimulate innovative reflections on democracy.
A program to strengthen performing arts in Rwanda
Creative Links contributes to structuring the performing arts sector for young audiences by combining:
Skills development
Artistic and professional exchanges
International collaborations (Rwanda – Europe)
Sustainable and inclusive initiatives
Artists, educators, and cultural professionals benefit from tailored support to strengthen their artistic and pedagogical practices.
Strategic objectives:
The project is built around six main objectives:
- Collaboration: Create opportunities for artistic co-creation between Rwanda and Europe
- Capacity building: Train and mentor artists and educators working with young audiences
- Inclusion: Increase cultural accessibility for vulnerable communities
- Exchange: Foster ongoing dialogue on practices linking “Arts and Democracy”
- Values: Promote democratic values through innovative artistic tools
- Awareness: Empower youth on the importance and preservation of democratic systems
Project impact
Creative Links aims to deliver tangible outcomes for the cultural sector and youth:
● 45 artists trained and engaged in the region
● Development of innovative tools and methodologies
● Strengthened skills in storytelling and performance
● Creation of sustainable professional networks between Rwanda and Europe
● Youth engagement in projects promoting inclusive societies