Since its launch in 2024, the Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) has emphasised the importance of creative economies in Africa for sustainable socio-economic development. The CoRE recognises the need to centre the dialogue between local and global stakeholders for the sustainable development of creative economies in Africa. This year’s call specifically highlights the importance of collaboration and networks within Africa as well as fostering connections between Africa and Europe. The networks and shared agenda can include issues such as heritage preservation, cultural representation, innovation, entrepreneurship and business development, international trade, cultural employment, digital and media spaces, long-term sustainability, and more. For these reasons, we seek papers from young and emerging scholars who engage with creative economies in the African context through these lenses but also consider the international and global perspectives of these networks. This conference will do just that by creating a space for new and emerging researchers to share, discuss and debate on the creative economies in Africa. We aim to build on this focus to support the interdisciplinary exchange of ideas, publications, and networking opportunities, and to advance new research agendas on the creative economies in Africa. Uniquely this year, we aim to explore how we can integrate marketing into the creative economies to ensure the sale of artwork as a business. This year, thanks to funding from the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and Global Engagement at King’s College London, our annual conference can take place both online and in person (at King’s College London, UK), enabling further collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
CALL FOR PAPERS
We are looking for original and innovative research papers and book chapters within all cognate departments and at all stages of research that explore collaborative networks and shared platforms for the development of creative economies in Africa and across Africa and Europe. Presentations are invited on (but not limited to) the following topics or issues:
- Literature, books and festivals: the world of writing in Africa between local and global
- Cultural entrepreneurship: local dynamics and global pressure
- Education and Research in creative economies in Africa: local and global networks
- Creative Economies, innovation and Sustainability
- The value of local culture and creative economies in the global development of Africa
- Between local and global: innovation and digital technology connections
- Africa Fashion: local knowledge and global networks
- International trade in cultural products, trade value chains and clusters
- New hybrid financing models for creative industries in Africa and Europe
- Cultural employment, precarity and the gig economy in the post-COVID era
- Diasporic networks as mediated by art and media
- Gendered readings of cultural economies
- AI and Creative Economies
Although we have specified these areas, researchers are welcome to submit contributions beyond them; we only ask that the submissions connect with the broader reflection on collaborative networks and cultural and creative economies in Africa.
The in-person event will include keynotes from key international professors from the CoRE creative economies.
The conference will take place in person in London and online.
18th-19th June in person (with possibility of hybrid attendance for audiences)
22nd of June online only (for presenters not able to present in person)
On 19th June, African creator-led media and intelligence company Communiqué will host their flagship Communiqué IRL, a practitioner-led networking event. From 5pm-8pm, this event – part of the Communiqué IRL city-to-city series – brings the company’s insights on Africa’s creative economy to life through live conversations, networking and community building. Conference attendees are welcome to join. You can register for this event here: https://luma.com/hxlxpp8t
