Sanaa kama Biashara

Sanaa kama Biashara program seeks to professionalize performing artists in the coastal region, providing them with entrepreneurial skills to optimize their income from their art.

Contextual Analysis

Kenya's creative industry, defined as per the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)...

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Proposed Activities

Our proposed program will commence with a seven-month incubation period. This period will be an immersive...

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Potential Challenges

While we anticipate numerous advantages from the program, we also recognise potential obstacles that may arise...

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Introduction

MMS Advocates LLP, a well-established law firm with offices in Nairobi and Mombasa, proudly oversees a dynamic business incubator program for performing artists named ``Sanaa kama Biashara.`` Our program spans the entire Kenyan Coastal region, with the inaugural cohort beginning their 7-months journey in February 2023, culminating in a grand showcase event scheduled for 4th October 2023, where they will have the opportunity to exhibit their individual projects. We aim to extend the project to Taita Taveta County and progressively to all 6 Counties. This program aims to empower artists, educate them about intellectual property rights, enhance their business management skills, and assist them in monetizing their talent.

Our selection criterion is designed to prioritize young, promising talent in music, poetry, and drama, with particular emphasis on performing groups and residents of the six Coastal Counties.

Contextual Analysis

Our proposed program will commence with a seven-month incubation period. This period will be an immersive, enriching experience focused on enhancing both the artistic and business acumen of the participants.

Kenya’s creative industry, defined as per the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), involves a range of sectors that contribute to the national GDP. Despite its potential, creatives, particularly performing artists, still face many challenges that hinder their growth and sustainability in the industry. A significant challenge is the insufficient understanding of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), which results in rampant piracy and exploitation of their creative work.

Coupled with this is a lack of industry cohesiveness and weak associations for collective bargaining, which leaves many artists vulnerable to unscrupulous practices. The industry is also characterized by exploitative and inefficient industry associations, which often fail to represent and support their members adequately. Additionally, artists struggle with limited entrepreneurial abilities, with a shortage of dedicated agents to help market and promote their work.

Market access is another hurdle, with underdeveloped local markets due to a lack of consumer appreciation for local creative works. Lastly, there is a shortage of legacy artists willing to mentor upcoming artists, resulting in a gap in knowledge transfer and capacity building. These challenges, among others, hamper the ability of performing artists in Kenya to fully realize their potential and benefit from their craft

However, emerging technologies and digital platforms such as social media and streaming services present unprecedented opportunities for performing artists in Kenya. These platforms provide artists with direct access to a global audience, significantly expanding their reach and potential fan base. Artists can now independently create, distribute, and monetize their content without the need for traditional intermediaries such as record labels or broadcasters.

Platforms like YouTube, Spotify, Mdundo, and Boomplay offer artists opportunities to earn through streaming royalties, while social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok provide avenues for artists to engage with their audience, build their brand, and market their work. The growth of smartphone usage and internet access in Kenya has further enhanced these opportunities. Technologies such as artificial intelligence are also establishing new standards in the creative industry, facilitating innovative ways of connecting with fans, networking and collaborating with other artists globally, and growing wider audiences.

Despite these opportunities, however, there remains a need for ongoing education and support for artists, particularly those in more remote regions, to help them effectively leverage these digital platforms.

Programme Vision and Objectives

The program seeks to professionalize performing artists in the coastal region, providing them with entrepreneurial skills to optimize their income from their art. The objectives include creating an incubator for artists, providing technical training, legal education and financial skills, and offering guidance on using technologies for content creation and distribution.

Proposed Activities

Our proposed program will commence with a seven-month incubation period. This period will be an immersive, enriching experience focused on enhancing both the artistic and business acumen of the participants.
Technical Training:

This will involve dedicated workshops and hands-on sessions targeted at refining the artistic skills of the participants in their respective genres. The goal is to elevate the quality of their performances and works, thereby enabling them to stand out in the competitive creative industry.

Intellectual Property Rights and Contract Negotiation:

Acknowledging the significant role of Intellectual Property (IP) in the arts sector, we will provide comprehensive training on IP rights, their protection, and the nuances of contract negotiation. This will empower the artists to safeguard their work and monetize their creations effectively.

Branding and Marketing:

With an understanding that personal branding and effective marketing are critical for artists to gain recognition and attract opportunities, through partners, we will offer training on building a strong, unique brand and marketing it effectively across various platforms.

Business Planning:

To help artists sustain and grow in the long term, we will provide training on essential business planning strategies. This will include identifying target markets, developing a market strategy, and choosing a suitable business structure.

Social Media Training:

As part of our commitment to embracing digital opportunities, we will conduct workshops on leveraging social media for content creation, distribution, and monetization. This will enable artists to reach a wider audience and capitalize on their work.

Potential Challenges

While we anticipate numerous advantages from the program, we also recognize potential obstacles that may arise during its implementation:

Limited Funding

Financial constraints are one of the most significant challenges we may encounter. The scope and impact of our program are directly influenced by the availability of funds. Limited financial resources may restrict the number of experts we can engage for training, the quality of resources we can provide, and the extent of support we can offer to the artists.

Underdeveloped Local Markets

Another potential hurdle is the current state of local markets. There seems to be a lack of consumer appreciation for local creative works, which can hinder the commercial success of our artists. This challenge calls for a more comprehensive approach that combines the development of artists with art-promotion initiatives

Need for Dedicated Program Management

To ensure the smooth and effective running of the program, there's a need for a full-time dedicated resource from MMS. This individual would coordinate all activities, liaise with stakeholders, and ensure that the artists receive the necessary support throughout their incubation period.

Despite these challenges, we remain committed to the successful execution of our program and will actively seek solutions to these issues, ensuring that our mission to empower local artists is fulfilled.

By bridging the knowledge gap and addressing the industry's challenges, the ``Sanaa Kama Biashara`` program aims to unlock the potential of Kenya's performing artists, contributing to a sustainable creative economy and the overall development of the country.
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