Kenya Film Commission – Film Kenya Capture Africa!

Kenyan cities have creative talent—musicians, artists, designers, filmmakers, craftspeople. But they lack infrastructure and support to turn creativity into sustainable livelihoods. Artists work from home or informal spaces without proper studios, equipment, or exhibition venues. Public spaces are underutilized or unsafe. Creative entrepreneurs struggle to formalize businesses, access markets, or get financing. And gentrification threatens to displace the very communities that make neighborhoods culturally vibrant.

The result? Creative talent leaves for Nairobi or abroad. Cultural districts decline. And cities miss opportunities to leverage culture for economic development, tourism, and social cohesion. Meanwhile, global cities are investing billions in creative districts—recognizing that culture drives innovation, attracts talent, and makes cities livable.

The Kenya State Department for Culture and Heritage is offering KES Sh 180 million (roughly $1.4 million USD) per city to develop creative economy districts. This program funds public space revitalization, creative infrastructure, enterprise support, and community programming. The goal is transforming urban areas into vibrant cultural districts that create jobs, attract visitors, and strengthen community identity.

For county governments partnering with creative hubs and community organizations, this program provides grants blending infrastructure upgrades with programming and business support. You’re not just building facilities—you’re creating ecosystems where creative talent can thrive, businesses can grow, and communities can gather.

What makes this program distinctive is its focus on inclusive access and anti-displacement. You’re not creating districts that price out existing residents—you’re ensuring youth and marginalized communities can participate, afford space, and benefit from development.

At a Glance

What This Funding Covers

The KES Sh 180 million supports comprehensive creative district development:

Public Space Revitalization (KES Sh 72 million): Creative districts need safe, vibrant public spaces. This component funds streetscape upgrades (paving, lighting, seating), creative lighting and public art installations, inclusive mobility (sidewalks, bike lanes, accessibility), and greening (trees, gardens, shade). Safe, vibrant districts attract residents and visitors, creating foot traffic that supports creative businesses.

Creative Infrastructure (KES Sh 54 million): Artists need affordable workspace. This funding supports studios for visual artists, rehearsal spaces for musicians and performers, digital labs with equipment for designers and filmmakers, and exhibition/performance venues. Accessible facilities nurture creative talent and enable professional-quality work.

Enterprise Support (KES Sh 36 million): Creative entrepreneurs need business support. This component funds grants for creative MSMEs and cooperatives, mentorship on legal, financial, and marketing issues, business development services, and access to markets and buyers. Business growth and job creation in creative sectors provide sustainable livelihoods.

Community Programming (KES Sh 18 million): Districts need cultural programming that engages communities. This funding supports festivals and cultural events, public art projects involving local artists, youth engagement initiatives (workshops, mentorship, performances), and community gatherings. Inclusive cultural participation builds social cohesion and district identity.

Beyond the direct funding, selected cities get urban design mentorship focusing on creative placemaking and accessibility, creative enterprise accelerators offering legal, financial, and marketing support, cultural programming residencies highlighting local artists and storytellers, and impact measurement workshops covering cultural indicators and ESG reporting.

Who Should Apply

This program is for county governments ready to invest in creative economies. You’re a good fit if:

You’re a County Government with Creative Sector Partners: You need county government as lead applicant, partnerships with creative hubs, cultural organizations, or artist collectives, and community organizations representing residents. Counties working alone without creative sector input won’t succeed—partnerships are essential.

You Have Community Support: You need county assembly resolution endorsing the creative city plan, evidence of community co-design workshops where residents shaped plans, and inclusion strategies ensuring youth, women, and marginalized groups benefit. Top-down plans imposed without community input will face resistance.

You’re Revitalizing Specific Cultural Districts: This isn’t citywide development—it’s focused on specific neighborhoods or districts. You need identified district with cultural character or potential, plans for physical improvements and programming, and strategies connecting the district to broader city development. Vague, citywide proposals aren’t competitive.

You Have Anti-Displacement Measures: Gentrification is a real risk. You need framework to prevent displacement of existing residents and businesses, affordable creative space policies (rent controls, subsidies, long-term leases), community land trusts or cooperative ownership models, and monitoring to ensure benefits reach existing communities. Districts that displace the people who made them culturally vibrant fail.

You Can Leverage Private Investment: The grant doesn’t cover everything. You need partnership agreements with private sector sponsors (developers, businesses, foundations), co-funding commitments showing financial sustainability, and revenue models for long-term maintenance. Public funding alone isn’t enough—you need private investment too.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Connect Creative Districts to Tourism, Tech, and Manufacturing Value Chains: The strongest applications show economic linkages—how creative districts attract tourists who spend money, how design services support tech and manufacturing companies, how cultural events create jobs in hospitality and retail, and how creative talent attracts other businesses. Districts that integrate with broader economies are more sustainable.

Detail Inclusive Governance with Community Advisory Boards: Don’t just consult communities—give them decision-making power. Show community advisory boards with real authority, representation of diverse groups (artists, residents, youth, women, informal traders), transparent decision-making processes, and mechanisms for ongoing community input. Inclusive governance prevents elite capture.

Quantify Social Impact Indicators: Show specific, measurable targets—number of creative jobs created (with gender and youth disaggregation), public space usage (footfall, dwell time, safety perceptions), youth engagement (participants in programs, skills gained), and community satisfaction. Quantified targets enable accountability.

Align with Kenya Kwanza Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda: The national government prioritizes bottom-up economic transformation. Show how your creative district advances this—job creation for youth and women, support for MSMEs and cooperatives, inclusive growth benefiting marginalized communities, and alignment with county and national development plans. Districts supporting national priorities are more competitive.

Map Long-Term Revenue Streams and Maintenance Funding: Districts need ongoing funding. Show revenue models—venue rental fees, event revenues, business improvement district taxes, tourism levies, and private sponsorships. Also show maintenance plans and budgets. Districts that thrive initially but decline due to lack of maintenance waste investment.

Showcase Existing Creative Assets: Don’t start from scratch—build on existing strengths. Show existing creative businesses, artists, and cultural organizations, cultural heritage or traditions unique to the district, existing events or festivals that could grow, and community pride in cultural identity. Districts with existing creative assets are easier to develop.

Application Timeline

Grants align with Kenya’s Creative Economy Masterplan rollout, with showcase festivals in December 2025. Here’s a realistic timeline:

February 2025: Launch participatory planning sessions. Hold community workshops, map creative assets, and co-design district vision with residents, artists, and businesses.

March-April 2025: Develop grant application including urban design schematics, business support strategies, programming plans, and governance structures.

April 2025: Submit grant application by deadline.

May-July 2025: If approved, finalize agreements and commence procurement for infrastructure and services.

August-September 2025: Begin infrastructure works (public space improvements, facility renovations) and enterprise programs (grants, mentorship, business support).

October-December 2025: Launch cultural programming (festivals, public art, youth programs) and prepare for showcase.

December 2025: Host creative city showcase festival. Celebrate progress, showcase creative talent, and share learnings with other counties.

Ongoing: Continue programming, support businesses, maintain infrastructure, and monitor impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can multiple counties apply together? Yes, regional creative corridors connecting multiple counties are encouraged. However, one county must be the lead applicant.

What if our county doesn’t have established creative hubs? Partner with informal artist collectives, cultural organizations, or community groups. The program can help formalize and strengthen these networks.

Can we use funding for existing facilities? Yes, renovating or upgrading existing facilities is eligible. New construction is also allowed if needed.

How is “creative economy” defined? Broadly—visual arts, performing arts, music, film, design, crafts, fashion, digital media, cultural tourism, etc. If it involves creativity and culture, it likely qualifies.

What about informal creative workers? They’re a priority. The program encourages formalizing informal creative businesses, providing affordable workspace, and ensuring informal workers benefit from district development.

Can private developers participate? Yes, through partnerships and co-funding. However, the county government must lead, and community benefit must be prioritized over private profit.

What if our district plan changes during implementation? Adaptive management is expected. Report changes, explain rationale, and get approval from the State Department. Rigid adherence to initial plans despite changing circumstances isn’t required.

How to Apply

Ready to build a creative district? Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Confirm eligibility. Are you a county government? Do you have creative sector and community partners? Do you have a specific district in mind? If yes, proceed.

Step 2: Launch participatory planning. Hold community workshops, map creative assets, identify priorities, and co-design your district vision.

Step 3: Develop your district plan including physical improvements (public spaces, facilities), enterprise support programs, cultural programming, and governance structures.

Step 4: Design anti-displacement measures. How will you prevent gentrification? Ensure affordable space? Benefit existing communities?

Step 5: Secure partnerships and co-funding. Which private sector partners will contribute? What co-funding can you commit?

Step 6: Get county assembly approval. Present your plan, get endorsement, and document support.

Step 7: Prepare application with all required components: county development plan excerpts and approvals, urban design and architectural drawings, community engagement documentation showing participatory planning, budget and financing strategy with co-funding commitments, and monitoring and evaluation plan with social impact indicators.

Step 8: Submit by June 2, 2025.

Visit the official Kenya Creative Cities Network Grant page for detailed guidelines and application materials: https://kenyafilmcommission.go.ke/

Questions about eligibility, anti-displacement measures, or partnerships? Contact the State Department for Culture and Heritage—contact information is available on their website.

Creative cities that center community voices and inclusive growth can anchor Kenya’s cultural renaissance and tourism ambitions. If your county is ready to invest in creative talent and cultural districts, this program can help you succeed.