COSOMA’s Copyright Fund disburses MK83m to artists

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) has awarded over MK83m to a dozen applicants under the Copyright Fund, to enhance sustainability of their creative business and foster connections with audiences.

The Fund chairperson Christopher Magomero made the announcement on Monday, July 31, 2023, in the capital Lilongwe during the second call for grant awards.

This is the second fund’s disbursement after MK75 million was released in the first phase of the project.

Magomero, therefore, emphasized the need for awardees to invest in the future with creativity.

He disclosed that the third phase of the grant hovers over MK100 million for artists to apply.

Magomero however expressed concern about capacity gaps in proposal writing and project management saying it is affecting most applicants to succeed in the bidding process.

“To address the challenges Cosoma has extended time for receiving applications from 1 month to 2 months to increase awareness on the project.

“We want all artists across the nation to benefit from this fund. We will make sure that no funds abuse is allowed,” assures Magomero.

One of the fund’s recipients, Nthangwanika Kondowe of Newwave Group lauds COSOMA for timely financial support saying will invest in raising awareness on copyright management and closing the technology gap among artists.

Newwave Group has received MK6.69 million for training, and awareness technology gap.

The COSOMA’s Copyright Fund is the first-ever grant-making body for the heritage and creative sector of Malawi.

The fund subsidizes and seeds projects by innovative COSOMA members, creative organizations, and individuals through two calls for funding per year.