Market for African Performing Arts

The Market for African Performing Arts (MASA) is based in the Ivory Coast and it supports work of African origin.

Origins
MASA was created in 1993 by the "Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie." It became an international program for the development of African performing arts in March 1993. Its main objective is to promote African artists and their works and incorporate them into international distribution channels in order to contribute to the economic and socio-cultural development of Africa.

MASA is the only Panafrican artistic project which combines business opportunities, a forum for professionals and a festival. It is held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, every other year, at the end of February each odd year. It brings to audiences more than a hundred theatrical, dance and musical troupes from all over Africa.

Objectives
Make the best African theatrical, dance and musical productions and artists better known to professionals in the North and South and foster the circulation of these productions within Africa and throughout the world. Support, help and develop the creation and circulation of African theatrical, choreographic, and musical productions. Support and develop the establishment of networks of African professionals and distributors. Provide suitable opportunities for African composers, lyricists, playwrights, producers, distributors and technicians involved in African performing arts to improve their professional skills; and Contribute to the promotion of the status and rights of artists.

Management
As a non profit legal entity and international program with management autonomy, MASA is managed by its own organs comprising of the following:

The Board of Directors, a decision-making body ; The International Artistic Committee, an expertise and advisory body; The General Management, a proposing, executing and following up body. Financing

80% of MASA’s financing is provided by the "Agence Intergouvernementale de la Francophonie" and Côte d’Ivoire. Some international organizations such as UNESCO and ADAMI also participate in this financing. Other organizations such as the European Commission, OAU, ISESCO, the Commonwealth, etc. are approached for their participation.

Financing is also sought with the private sector and sponsors.

Activities
The resources put at MASA’s disposal are used to finance the following activities:

An information campaign aimed at promoting MASA in African national cultural administrations and governments, international distributors and professionals and artists residing and working in Africa, show forums and selling places and international festivals. The selection of the best African theatrical, choreographic and musical performances in every African country. The organization, during eight days in Abidjan, of a real market of performing arts with the artistic troupes selected, a popular festival and a forum of exchange for professionals. About 2,000 artists and professional performing arts distributors take part in these activities. Actions, such as support to the creation, circulation and distribution of artistic productions, support to and establishment of professionals and distributors’ channels, the organization of refresher courses for the professional improvement of players involved in African performing, aimed at developing African performing arts before and after the event itself. These actions are essential to the development of MASA as they provide the program with an integrated basis. They cannot be carried out without additional financial resources.

For more information
See the MASA wwebsite at http://masa.francophonie.org/

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