Embedding and Enabling Creative Economy in Marginalised Societies: Creative Skills for Peace
This project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, aimed to strengthen creative skills among young artists so they can contribute to a sustainable peace economy in marginalised communities. It was a collaboration between the Open University, the University of South Africa, and Midlands State University in Zimbabwe, bringing together researchers to support skills development and creative capacity-building for peace.
Background
The African Union and UN International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development 2021 highlight the importance of promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth through providing opportunities, benefits and empowerment for all, promoting networking and sharing best practices and experiences.
Embedding cultural heritage and local art into the creative economy through upskilling can create sustainable peace economies that potentially reduce the structural inequalities arising from the (pre-)conflict and improve the livelihoods of people. The research team have come together with new partners from the creative industries and artists in the UK and Africa to explore how such an enabling environment can be created.
About
This 15-month project focused on exploring and creating sustainable local peace economies and the ways in which this can be integrated in teaching of peace by embedding creative, soft and entrepreneurial skills and training for peace and sustainable development and enabling the reach of these communities and youth among new stakeholders, artists and cultural, creative and heritage organisations nationally, regionally (Southern Africa) and internationally (Southern Africa – UK) through networking. The project worked to leave a legacy by developing and depositing lasting educational materials for future young people to unlock the economic potential of tangible and intangible heritages.
Project Aims
The project aimed to:
- Embed new knowledge of local artistic, soft, digital and entrepreneurial skills among young people thus helping to empower them, their communities through greater economic participation in the creative industry and thus to lessen conflict as the economic drivers of conflict are reduced
- Develop and deposit the outcomes of their work in local museums but also in training material that is developed as a booklet that is distributed and through an OER
- Use and embed these educational materials into the modules taught by UNISA Business School (South Africa) and MSU Faculty of Education (Zimbabwe).
Educational Materials
The Creative Economy short course helps artists and teachers use their culture to make meaningful work and earn money. The course is based on research from 16 projects in 14 African countries.
Building the Creative Economy in Africa
The course has two parts and six short units. It shows how to:
- Turn creative ideas into a business
- Find customers and markets
- Work with others and build networks
- Plan for long‑term, sustainable work
The course has videos, simple activities, reflection questions and real case studies. You can use it in a studio, classroom or community space. By the end, students will understand the creative economy and feel more confident using their culture in their work.
Go to the Creative Economy Learning Materials
Engage with the free course videos