Creative Futures
Young creatives building a future in the arts
Creative Futures supports young people aged 15 to 35 across Africa to build a lasting creative practice, earn income from their work, and use it to shape public conversation and social change.
Why it matters
Talent needs a stage, skills and a way to earn
Young writers, poets and artists turn their experiences into stories that build community and move people. Many lack the platforms, mentors and markets to keep going.
Since 2016 we have run 42 creative events, and in 2024 and 2025 we brought 108 creatives into two international advocacy campaigns.
Programmes
What we run
From a first open mic to a funded capstone project.
Creative Futures Lab
A selective programme for young creatives, with mentoring, capstone grants and an Annual Showcase of their work.
Open Mics
Live and virtual open mics, poetry slams and book readings that give new voices an audience.
Art for social change
Campaigns such as Art for Life, which produced the anthology Held Too Briefly.
From manuscript to readers
Publishing advice, introductions to publishers, editing through our network, and a route to readers through the COAL Bookstore.
Between the Lines
Our podcast of conversations with African writers, poets and thinkers about their stories and craft.
Listen to Between the LinesWorkshops and screenings
Writing workshops with established authors and film screenings of book adaptations, followed by conversation.
Events and galleriesOpen Mic
Voices from the stage
Between the Lines podcast
Conversations with African writers
Apply
Open calls from COAL
Cohort selections, campaign calls and grants we run ourselves.
No COAL call is open right now
Calls for the Creative Futures Lab and our campaigns are announced here first.
Opportunities for creatives
Opportunities we've found for you
We regularly share prizes, fellowships, residencies and calls for submissions from across Africa and beyond. New ones appear here.