Project

Promoting startups in cultural and creative industries in Palestine

© Bill Smith/Flickr

Overview

Funds Allocated: 99 350,00 USD

Period: 2017 to 2018

Beneficiary countries: Palestine

Applicant: Leaders Organization

Presentation

The project aims to reinforce Palestine’s cultural and creative industries through the creation of startups and new models of entrepreneurship, leading to the empowerment of local cultural entrepreneursLeaders Organization is a local non-governmental organization specialized in entrepreneurship and economic development.

Expected results

  • Cultural entrepreneurs and stakeholders are made aware of the economic potential of cultural industries
  • The management capacities of young entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries are strengthened
  • The main challenges in local policies and legal frameworks are identified
  • 10 startups, chosen on the basis of innovation and sustainability criteria, complete an incubation programme
  • A network of professionals and investors working at the local, regional and international levels is established

How does this project contribute to the implementation of the 2005 Convention?

  • Encourages cooperation and partnerships, in the spirit of innovation:the project beneficiaries will have the opportunity to participate in exchange programmes, which encourage learning, knowledge transfer and the creation of new markets
  • Builds local skills and professional capacities: through training in entrepreneurship and coaching sessions, the project will create new job opportunities, notably for youth
  • Contributes to the development of evidence-based cultural policies that are adapted to cultural industries and that lead to structural change through the elaboration of recommendations
  • Promotes women’s equal participation and opportunities as cultural entrepreneurs

Main activities

  • Mapping of local cultural industries to identify initiatives and key stakeholders and to establish partnerships and synergies with other existing initiatives in the sector
  • Publishing a study on policies and legal frameworks affecting the development of businesses in Palestine’s culture sector and distributing five public policy briefings with recommendations for policymakers, stakeholders from the culture sector and other interested parties
  • Organizing two startup weekend competitions, to identify innovative and viable business models, develop basic prototypes and conduct initial market validation, open to local cultural entrepreneurs
  • Training in entrepreneurship and management for 20 men and 20 women, selected from the startup weekend competitions, to develop their own projects and asses the viability of their business
  • Supporting and supervising 10 startups through a 120-day incubation programme
  • Establishing a network of professionals and potential investors, through presentations and exchange programmes, to support the post-incubation phase of selected startups