Frequently Asked Questions for the Programme

What is the ’ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi’ Project ?

ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi is a program aimed at identifying and supporting young and talented Rwandans within the creative arts industry. It consists of a televised nationwide search for creative youth in six different categories (plastic arts, dance & music, fashion, acting & drama, cinematography & photography, and literature). Throughout the program, contestants will be mentored by industry experts and receive advice on how to transform their talent into sustainable employment opportunities, in an effort to support their artistic development and future career aspirations.

Why target young people ?

ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi is targeting young people in Rwanda because they make up for the largest section of the population. They are most affected by the challenges that the Government seeks to address in general. They are in a better position to propose solutions to challenge community experience.

More to that, we believe the project has the potential to address the youth unemployment issue through the promotion of social entrepreneurship among young people.

What was the outcome of the first edition of ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi ?

In its first phase, 587 young artists, from the six categories, were selected at Province Level. From these, the top 68 best artists were identified at the national level to attend the boot-camp and later competed for the final prizes.

Six artists were finally selected as winners in each category winning 1,000,000 Rwf each, along with three best projects, winning seed funding of 10,000,000 Rwf, each.

The remaining winners are all supported in their artistic niche through Ubuhanzi’s Incubation Programme.

Will the second edition of ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi be the same as the first edition ?

The second edition of ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi will be a bit different this year. The initial search and auditions will take place in all districts, to ensure a wider reach.

However, the competition is still open to Rwandan artists aged between 18 and 35 years, within six categories namely : plastic arts, dance, and music, acting, and drama, cinematography, and photography, as well as literature.

How do I join the competition ?

Any interested young person meeting the participation requirements - that is any Rwandan between 18-35 years talented in Plastic arts, Dance & Music, Fashion, Theatre & Drama, Cinematography & Photography and Literature - can audition from their district at the designated audition sites.

What are the stages of the competition ?

30 contestants representing all the 6 categories under the Creative Arts industry will be selected at every district to continue to the provincial level. Thereafter, 70 among them will be selected to continue to the first training of the boot camp phase which will eliminate 40 and have the remaining 30 continue to participate in the second training. The remaining 30 will be put together in 5 groups of six contestants and be tasked to work on a team challenge. Following this phase, the 5 groups will pitch their projects in front of a panel of judges. Three (3) groups will be selected following the pitch day to polish their projects and compete for the grande finale phase, which will determine the top team, the top artist in each category, and the audience’s favorite artist.

Where are the auditions going to take place from ?

The second edition will consist of a countrywide selection, in every district. Find more details of where auditions are taking place around the country (A link to the district maps showcased on the home section)

How will winners be selected ?

Throughout the whole edition, from the auditions stage to the Grande Finale, a panel of expert judges picked from a selection of criteria developed by Imbuto Foundation, the Ministry of Youth and Culture, and the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture.

What challenges is ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi addressing ?

The two challenges to be addressed by ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi is :

1) Recognizing the talent that is widely present among Rwandan youth.
2) Foster the creation of jobs in the creative industry.

Who came up with the ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi ? Has it been done in other countries ?

The ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi is a program conceptualized by the Ministry of Youth and Culture and Imbuto Foundation. A similar concept exists in other countries but it is the first of its kind to be organized in Rwanda and for Rwandans.

Who will own the intellectual property rights for the art pieces/projects/performances developed through ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi ?

The participants in the ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi program will own the rights to the art pieces/projects/performances they develop. However, we encourage participants to trademark and get copyright of their creations/projects, for intellectual property protection.

What is the difference between a trademark and copyright ?

While both offer intellectual property protection, they protect different types of assets. Copyright is geared toward literary and artistic works, such as books and videos. A trademark protects items that help define a company/institution brand, such as its logo. To learn more about trademark and copyright in Rwanda, visit www.rdb.rw.

Can I claim a piece of someone else’s prize if I contributed to the success of their project/creation ?

It is not possible for an external person to claim a piece of the prize from the winning project/creation unless they can prove ownership rights. For contestants who will present existing projects, they will have to provide ownership documents.

I am an illustrator and I share my work on my Instagram page but I have not yet gotten the chance to present/exhibit my work at any art gallery. Can I still join the program ?

Yes, you can still join the program, however, we are interested in supporting young and undetected talents. You should be able to demonstrate the entrepreneurship approach of your project/creation.

Will ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi provide any financial or technical support to young artists ?

The winners will receive different prizes packages, among which seed capital will be provided to the main winners, allowing them to start their new ventures and permit them to access certain grants. In addition to the cash prizes, they will be linked to renowned art galleries, ’ateliers de couture’, relevant institutions to their specific fields, for internships, and a 1 year incubation period.

Can I join the competition with an existing project that needs funding ?

Yes, you can, as long you meet the judging criteria and are considered to be a young undiscovered creative. If you have an existing project, you can use it as a supporting document that the judges can use for further understanding of your talent. This could for example be a book or short story you have written if you are auditioning as an author. However, an existing project is not a prerequisite in order to sign up.

How many times can I enter the competition ?

If your application was not taken into consideration for the first edition of ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi at any of the different phases, you still have a chance to join the competition for this second edition. Throughout the competition, contestants are only allowed to audition at one site and only for one category.

What kind of supporting materials should I carry when coming for auditions ?

Any physical item you think would provide valuable information about your project, that judges can refer to, to better understand how your idea meets the ArtRwanda - Ubuhanzi criteria. In case it is an existing project, you need to provide ownership rights documents.

I am not in Rwanda ; can I still join the competition ?

You can engage with us via our social media platforms ; or follow the ArtRwanda-Ubuhanzi TV shows on our YouTube channel, but participation requires physical presence.

Will the selected groups have enough time to get their projects market-ready in the only proposed months ?

We provide the necessary coaching for the projects to be developed in the given amount of time months. However, the mentorship for contestants extends the duration, and each individual will be supported in developing a comprehensive business plan including a timeline for the project.

How does the program ensure that impactful projects are supported ?

The judges give feedback on the talent displayed, as well as assess the groups on the viability of each specific project for revenue and job creation. In addition to this, the 1 – year incubation serves the purpose of carrying out a close follow-up of the winners.

How does this program support the Rwandan Government’s priorities ?

The program aims at detecting talents of the youth between the ages of 18-35 with the objective of contributing to the increase of employment focusing on the set targets of the National Strategy of Transformation (NST) of creating 70,000 jobs by 2024 among the youth.

Second Proposed response.

The program aims at detecting talents of the youth between the ages of 18-35 with the objective of contributing to the increase of employment focusing on the set targets of the National Strategy of Transformation (NST) of creating 1,500,000 decent and productive jobs Rwandans at large, and the Youth in particular.

Can groups take part in the auditions and be selected as a group ?

No. Groups cannot be registered for the preliminary auditions as judges will only be judging and selecting individuals. A participant can, however, use the support of a group to showcase his/her talent at the preliminary auditions but must note that this will not be allowed at later stages of the competition.

Is there enough Gender Representation in the competition ?

We highly value and encourage gender equality in this competition and have considered this in all aspects of this project. With regard to judges and industry trainers, we have selected both male and females to ensure a balance, however, a heavier weight was placed on the involving with the right kind of experience, which would be able to contribute to quality selections and provide quality training to participants.

Did you have a question that wasn’t answered here ?

You can email us at [email protected] or reach out to us by DM on all our social media platforms.