KINA Festival was initiated in 2009 by Ishyo Arts Centre, a women-led non-governmental organization dedicated to the development and promotion of arts and culture in Rwanda. Guided by its mission to make culture accessible to all, especially young audiences, Ishyo has produced numerous theater, movement and music productions over the years. Inspired by the rise of a new generation expressing their hopes and challenges through art, KINA Festival was born to engage the imagination of young audiences, encouraging them to thoughtfully interact with the world. An artistic platform for re-generation!
The festival places a strong emphasis on enhancing children and youth artistic and critical skills and nurturing their creativity. It features a diverse range of performances by local and international artists, with a focus on building intra and intercontinental artistic collaborations. KINA Festival is held every two years, with a special Rwandan touring edition called Kina-in-schools during the gap year.
Since its creation KINA Festival hosted artists and performances from South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Senegal, Cameroun, RDC, Congo, Tanzania, Burkina Faso and also from Germany, Sweden, France, Belgium, etc.
Special Focus for 2025: This year’s edition will spotlight African creators and regional collaborations while remaining open to international artists from all performing arts disciplines aimed at young audiences. KINA Festival 2025 will highlight culture diversity, innovation, south-south dialogue, making it a truly global event.
In addition to performances, this year’s festival will also welcome a Professionals Forum for those with an interest in children’s development and the role of the arts in that growth. It will provide a platform for professionals to connect, share ideas, and collaborate on exciting new projects.
How to Participate:
- Performance Submissions: We invite artists and producers to submit their performances for KINA Festival 2025. The submission form can be found here.
- Professionals Forum Submissions: Details for the Professionals Forum for submissions will be available by the end of October on Ishyo Arts Centre’s website.
What to Expect at KINA 2025:
- A week filled with engaging and thought-provoking performances for children and young audiences.
- Professional dialogues, and opportunities for touring and create new collaboration with African and international creators /producers
- An inspiring environment that fosters intercultural exchange and artistic innovation.
Join Us! To learn more about KINA Festival 2025, including performance submission deadlines and how to participate in the Professionals Forum, please visit Ishyo Arts Centre’s website or contact us at production@ishyoartscentre.org.
Let’s come together to create unforgettable artistic experiences that will shape the next generation!
