Why us, why the arts?
Social Impact Through Artistic Endeavour
For more than 20 years the Development Alchemists has worked within the creative sector supporting artists and artisans in developing their creative talents into their creative businesses. We have witnessed first-hand the transformative nature of artistic efforts for individuals and communities and are committed to contributing to positive social impact through artistic endeavour.
Our work is global, taking us to more than 70 countries and working with people from more than 150 nationalities.
For more information go here: https://www.development-alchemists.art/
Social Impact Through Artistic Endeavour
For more than 20 years the Development Alchemists has worked within the creative sector supporting artists and artisans in developing their creative talents into their creative businesses. We have witnessed first-hand the transformative nature of artistic efforts for individuals and communities and are committed to contributing to positive social impact through artistic endeavour.
Our work is global, taking us to more than 70 countries and working with people from more than 150 nationalities.
For more information go here: https://www.development-alchemists.art/
Decent work and the creative economy in Africa
The International Labour Organization (ILO), UNESCO, and the African Union (AU) have jointly developed a programme titled "Advance Decent Work to Harness the Full Potential of an Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Culture and Creative Economy in Africa." This initiative recognises the cultural and creative economy (CCE) as one of the world's fastest-growing economic sectors, currently accounting for 3.1% of global GDP and 6.2% of employment worldwide.
In Africa specifically, the CCE generates approximately USD $58 billion in revenues, employs 2.4 million people, and contributes about 1.1% to regional GDP. The African handicraft market alone has grown by 12% between 2015 and 2019 and is projected to reach $984.8 billion by 2023, highlighting the sector's enormous potential for job creation and economic development.
Despite this potential, the document identifies several significant challenges facing cultural and creative workers. Many experience precarious employment conditions characterised by informality, part-time work, lack of social protection, and unregulated working hours. Gender inequality remains prevalent, with women often required to work harder than men to gain acceptance as creative professionals, while also facing greater exposure to exploitation. Occupational safety concerns and limited social dialogue mechanisms further compound these issues, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when the global creative sector lost over 10 million jobs.
To address these challenges, the programme has developed five interconnected strands. The first focuses on improving legal recognition of the status of artists to ensure better working conditions and appropriate regulatory frameworks. The second strand aims to extend social protection to creative workers, who often lack access to adequate social security mechanisms. The third strand works toward formalising informal economic activities, which characterise more than 66% of sub-Saharan African economies. The fourth develops opportunities for sustainable enterprises, job creation, and skills development, particularly in digital environments. The fifth strand builds partnerships and social dialogue to improve labour standards and working conditions.
The programme will operate simultaneously at continental, regional, and national levels. The African Union will provide coordination at the continental level, while Regional Economic Communities will facilitate policy harmonisation regionally. At the national level, country-specific programmes will be developed with local partners to address particular needs and contexts.
Implementation is structured across three phases: a one-year short-term phase focused on awareness-raising and advocacy; a medium-term phase (2-4 years) for developing sectoral strategies and strengthening representative structures; and a long-term phase (5-10 years) dedicated to building enabling environments for decent work throughout the creative economy.
The initiative aims to contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals and the AU Agenda 2063 by fostering greater recognition of artists' status, improving social security for creative workers, enhancing skills among young people, increasing quality job creation, and strengthening social dialogue mechanisms. Through these efforts, the programme seeks to harness the vast potential of Africa's cultural and creative economy, creating thriving and resilient creative sectors that benefit both practitioners and the wider society.
In Africa specifically, the CCE generates approximately USD $58 billion in revenues, employs 2.4 million people, and contributes about 1.1% to regional GDP. The African handicraft market alone has grown by 12% between 2015 and 2019 and is projected to reach $984.8 billion by 2023, highlighting the sector's enormous potential for job creation and economic development.
Despite this potential, the document identifies several significant challenges facing cultural and creative workers. Many experience precarious employment conditions characterised by informality, part-time work, lack of social protection, and unregulated working hours. Gender inequality remains prevalent, with women often required to work harder than men to gain acceptance as creative professionals, while also facing greater exposure to exploitation. Occupational safety concerns and limited social dialogue mechanisms further compound these issues, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when the global creative sector lost over 10 million jobs.
To address these challenges, the programme has developed five interconnected strands. The first focuses on improving legal recognition of the status of artists to ensure better working conditions and appropriate regulatory frameworks. The second strand aims to extend social protection to creative workers, who often lack access to adequate social security mechanisms. The third strand works toward formalising informal economic activities, which characterise more than 66% of sub-Saharan African economies. The fourth develops opportunities for sustainable enterprises, job creation, and skills development, particularly in digital environments. The fifth strand builds partnerships and social dialogue to improve labour standards and working conditions.
The programme will operate simultaneously at continental, regional, and national levels. The African Union will provide coordination at the continental level, while Regional Economic Communities will facilitate policy harmonisation regionally. At the national level, country-specific programmes will be developed with local partners to address particular needs and contexts.
Implementation is structured across three phases: a one-year short-term phase focused on awareness-raising and advocacy; a medium-term phase (2-4 years) for developing sectoral strategies and strengthening representative structures; and a long-term phase (5-10 years) dedicated to building enabling environments for decent work throughout the creative economy.
The initiative aims to contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals and the AU Agenda 2063 by fostering greater recognition of artists' status, improving social security for creative workers, enhancing skills among young people, increasing quality job creation, and strengthening social dialogue mechanisms. Through these efforts, the programme seeks to harness the vast potential of Africa's cultural and creative economy, creating thriving and resilient creative sectors that benefit both practitioners and the wider society.
Business Skills for artists
Making a living in the creative industries is not easy; artists and artisans often do not have the necessary business skills or may not know where to focus their talents. Their specific needs require training which recognises their creativity while honing their ability to make money from their art.
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Promoting artists
As a part of our work in building communities of artists and profiling the work of different people we support and collaborate with, we like to spotlight some people within our community. On the links below you can read about different artists, their work and the ideas that drive their creative talents.
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The arts of magic
The connection between art and magic is undeniable. Artists often possess a mystical quality, as they delve into the realms of human thought and activity that transcend the rational and linear world. There seems to be a hidden bond between art and magic, rooted in the intricate connections between perception, imagination, consciousness, and reality itself. By exploring the relationship between art, magic, and mystics, we can gain a deeper understanding of their interplay.
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