New York, NY – OneBeat, the U.S. Department of State’s premier multinational music exchange program, opens its first OneBeat Abroad program dedicated to creative entrepreneurship with OneBeat Ghana. OneBeat Ghana supports the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative announced by the Department of State in September which recognizes the power of music in diplomacy to build bridges, support inclusive economic growth, and build resilient societies. “Ghana’s creative artists are making a global name for themselves – but today’s artists also need to be wise
business people as well. This exchange program will help Ghana’s young artists develop their entrepreneurial talents, alongside their musical skills with mentoring from U.S.-based artists and professionals,” says Emily Fertik, Public Affairs Counselor, U.S. Embassy Ghana.
The two-week program brings together 11 young leading musician entrepreneurs from Ghana, Nigeria, and the United States to build strategies for stronger local artist communities and creative economies in the region. OneBeat Ghana is led in collaboration with Accra based Black Girls Glow founder, author and OneBeat alumna Poetra Asantewa. “Leading Black Girls Glow for the last seven years has taught me that there is and there’s always going to be a wealth of talent in Ghana,” says Poetra. “What we are severely lacking are solutions for both artists and their communities to thrive. My hope is for OneBeat Ghana to be a way to imagine tailor-made and better futures for artists of today and tomorrow.”
OneBeat Ghana Fellows are leading the charge to build stronger creative economies. They will gather at Stone Lodge in Asutsuare, outside of Accra, for a 1 ½ week intensive residency focused on creative exercises and professional development workshops to incubate and develop their independent artist projects through peer to peer exchange and guest artist mentorship. Fellows then travel to Accra to present their work to fellow artists, community leaders, industry experts and funders at Impact Hub, an Accra-based organization centered around fostering social innovation, on Saturday, November 18 from 4-8 PM. The event, open to the public and a group of curated guests, includes performances, discussions and presentations from OneBeat Ghana Fellows.
To learn more about the OneBeat Ghana Fellows and information about the program, click here: https://1beat.org/program/onebeat-ghana/
