British Council, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe And Global Partners Champion Inclusive Growth Through Collaboration

The British Council and the Embassy of Switzerland in Zimbabwe, through their ongoing partnership to support the creative industries, will host the third edition of Creative Economy Week Zimbabwe 2026 from 2 to 7 March 2026, convening creatives, policymakers, cultural institutions, industry leaders and entrepreneurs under the theme ‘Inclusive Growth Through Collaboration, Kuvaka Pamwe, Ukukhula okuhlanganisayo.’

This year’s Creative Economy Week builds on the momentum of previous editions by strengthening collaboration across Zimbabwe’s creative and cultural sectors, connecting with regional and global expertise. CEW 2026 focuses on further expanding practical skills exchange, and supporting young creatives to develop sustainable, commercially viable enterprises. Over six days, the programme will feature masterclasses, workshops, roundtables, showcases, and networking sessions that combine creative development with the business tools needed to grow.

Participants will engage with local and international experts, explore real-world growth models, from investment readiness and market access to commissioning and distribution and form partnerships that translate talent into long-term opportunity for the industry.

‘Creative Economy Week is where we shift from celebrating talent to strengthening the systems that help creative practitioners earn and scale,’ said Lloyd Anderson, Country Director, British Council Zimbabwe. ‘Through our partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland, we’re backing practical pathways, skills, networks and market connections, that support sustainable growth in the creative industries.’

Creative and cultural sector partners from Nigeria, Rwanda, India, Pakistan, and United Kingdom will gather alongside their Zimbabwean contemporaries to deliver roundtables, workshops, and masterclasses for entrepreneurs across the creative spectrum.

Kicking off the week, a flagship manufacturing immersion will take a cohort from the Creative DNA programme to David Whitehead Textiles in Kadoma, offering hands-on insight into industrial production standards, quality assurance, costing, and production planning to help designers strengthen supply-chain readiness and scale commercially viable brands for local and international markets.

In his remarks, at the opening reception for the Creative Economy Week 2026, the National Executive Director of the National Arts Council, Napoleon Nyanhi said, ‘this week, our local creatives stand at the threshold of immense opportunity. The relationships forged here, the contacts made, the knowledge shared, are the true currency of the creative economy. We are particularly eager to see how these dialogues will unfold in both Harare and Bulawayo, ensuring that this national conversation includes the unique creative energies from across our country.’

Creative Economy Week will also feature:

Grant in Arts Roundtable – Harare | Mon 2 March | 15:30–17:00

A dedicated session for international cultural institutions to share project outcomes and outline grant opportunities for 2026–2027, featuring a multi-partner panel including the British Council, US Embassy, Alliance Française, Embassy of Switzerland, Zimbabwe German Society, UNESCO, Culture Fund and Old Mutual.

Investment Readiness Roundtable – Harare | Wed 4 March | 10:00–13:00
A targeted session demystifying the investor perspective and what it means to be ‘investment ready,’ designed for founders looking to scale operations, hire more artisans, and enter new markets through funding or strategic partnerships.

Music Industry Conversations – Harare | Fri 6 March | 12:00–13:30

A panel on leveraging technology and collaboration to strengthen African music ecosystems, featuring industry voices including Mavin Records and Downtown Music Africa, alongside Reprezent UK and Zimbabwean industry representation.

Officials from the Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, the National Arts Council, cultural institutions, and private sector partners will also lead several stakeholder engagements to strengthen collaboration and shared understanding of the creative economy’s potential.

Creative DNA Fashion Showcase – Harare | Sat 7 March | 13:00–17:00

A curated runway experience showcasing the technical and narrative evolution of Creative DNA Seed Awardees, featuring a Rwandan collective of designers.

Read Also: British International Investment Commits $40 Million as ACE Fund Secures $690 Million First Close, Targeting Climate Impact Across Emerging Markets