Arterial Network is a dynamic Pan-African, civil-society network of artists, cultural activists, entrepreneurs, enterprises, NGOs, institutions, and donors active in Africa’s creative and cultural sectors. Established as a member-based, non-profit organization, Arterial Network operates all across the continent in both English and French, and is led by an elected Steering Committee which represents the five regions of the continent. Arterial Network’s five core focus areas to support the arts are advocacy, capacity building, market access, knowledge management and information dissemination. Its Continental Secretariat is now based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as of the 1st of February 2017. Arterial Network celebrated its 10th anniversary in March 2017 in Abidjan.
Arterial Network was born on Gorée Island in Senegal in March 2007, during a conference looking at the theme, “Vitalizing Africa’s Cultural Assets.” Arterial Network is a vibrant pan-African network of civil society that brings together artists, organizations and institutions involved in the African creative sector. Arterial Network celebrated its 10th anniversary in March 2017 in Abidjan.
Its creation was motivated by a desire among African cultural actors to take charge of the creative sector and effect change in the areas of good governance, access to information, strengthening of civil society, and equality – non-discrimination and inclusion.
The first Arterial Network conference was held in Johannesburg in September 2009 and saw the formation of the Continental Steering Committee. Mulenga Kapwepwe (Zambia) was named the first president of Arterial Network in 2009. In the years that followed, the network has been led by Korkor Amarteifio (Ghana, 2011 – 2013), Aadel Essaadani (Morocco, 2013 – 2015), Mamou Daffé (Mali, 2015 – 2017) and Daves Guzha (Zimbabwe, 2017-2019).
In 2009, the Arterial Network Continental Secretariat was established in Cape Town, South Africa. In February 2017, the office relocated to Abidjan, following the signing of an agreement with the Market for African Performing Arts (MASA) in Côte d’Ivoire.
Across the African continent and at international level, Arterial Network has acquired both recognition and credibility from diverse actors throughout the cultural and creative industries. Although the Network has de facto functional independence, it strives to acquire true autonomy and financial sustainability.
Mimeta was one of the initaitors for the meeting in Gorée Island in 2007 - and supported the network till 2020.
See more here!
