Arts & Culture Foundation · Canada
We promote global arts, culture and the creative economy, connecting Canada, Rwanda, Africa and the world through festivals, exhibitions, exchange and education.
01About us
Ikirenga Arts and Culture Foundation Canada is an international arts and cultural organization based in Canada, working across Canada, Rwanda, Africa, and the global community. The foundation promotes cultural exchange, creative industries, and cultural tourism through innovative programs and strategic partnerships that connect artists and audiences worldwide.
02Mission
To promote Rwandan, African, Canadian, and global arts, culture, and cultural tourism through festivals, exhibitions, creative economy programs, and educational initiatives, fostering international exchange and collaboration across countries worldwide.
03Vision
A world where artists and cultural communities from Canada and all regions of the world collaborate to inspire creativity, dialogue, tourism, and cultural understanding across borders.
04Objectives
Organize and support festivals, exhibitions, and cultural events in Canada and internationally, attracting diverse global audiences.
Develop and promote cultural tourism programs linking Canada with countries worldwide.
Partner with tourism boards, embassies, and cultural organizations globally to create high-profile international events.
Offer educational workshops, training programs, and creative economy initiatives in Canada and worldwide.
Promote diaspora and international engagement by connecting artists and cultural practitioners across global communities.
Facilitate international cultural exchange programs between Canada and countries worldwide.
Support the growth of creative industries as a driver of economic development and cultural diplomacy on a global scale.
05What we do
Festivals, exhibitions and cultural events that bring diverse global audiences together.
Exchange programs linking artists and practitioners in Canada with countries worldwide.
Growing the creative economy as a driver of development and cultural diplomacy.
Tourism programs connecting Canada, Rwanda, Africa and the world.
Workshops, training and creative economy initiatives in Canada and worldwide.
06Projects & legacy
Promoting cultural diversity. Defending artistic freedom. Empowering creative communities.
IKIRENGA is a Rwandan cultural organization with an international vision, connecting art, culture, creativity and sustainable development. Through festivals, advocacy, education and international partnerships, we empower artists and communities in Rwanda and beyond to shape a more inclusive and culturally vibrant world.
Annual festival · Musanze
An annual cultural event organized by Ikirenga Art and Culture Promotion that celebrates Rwanda's rich cultural heritage, its artistic expressions, language and natural beauty.
Artists, performers and cultural enthusiasts gather while embassies, international schools and NGOs showcase their own cultures, fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Explore the festival
Project · Supported by UNESCO
A project of Ikirenga Art and Culture Promotion, supported by UNESCO through the UNESCO-Aschberg Programme (funded by Norway), to protect and promote artistic freedom across Rwanda, in three phases:
Research: understanding the challenges, gaps and opportunities in the Rwandan artistic community.
Capacity building: targeted training to equip artists with the skills to address them.
Exhibition: a platform for trained artists to present work to investors, partners and the public.
Funded by the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to empower Rwanda's creative community.
A stage for young creatives, launched in Musanze on May 15, 2021, with Symphony Band and leading fashion agencies.
Business and entrepreneurship skills for young artists, helping them build sustainable enterprises from their talents.
07UNESCO & international engagement
IKIRENGA Art and Culture Promotion is an accredited civil society organization under UNESCO's 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, with its accreditation renewed through 2029.
Through its observer participation in the Convention's processes and Civil Society Forums, IKIRENGA contributes to international dialogue on cultural diversity, artistic freedom and the development of the cultural and creative industries, and advocates for cultural policy that protects artists.
We collaborate with international cultural networks, development institutions, embassies, civil society organizations and creative sector partners. Our ambition is to connect Rwanda's creative potential with the world, while bringing international cultural knowledge, opportunities and partnerships back to our communities.
Granted accredited civil society observer status under the UNESCO 2005 Convention
17th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention, Paris
10th Conference of Parties and 5th Civil Society Forum
Accreditation renewed through 2029
08Latest · Paris · 17–29 July 2026
Ikirenga Arts and Culture Promotion and Ikirenga Arts and Culture Foundation Canada took part in and supported the 21st International Youth Media Summit (IYMS) in Paris, bringing Rwanda's film and creative sector to young filmmakers, educators and cultural leaders from across the world.
Facilitated international workshops on Rwanda's creative economy, film industry and cultural tourism
Led cultural exchange and networking with NGOs, producers, educators and youth leaders
Represented Rwanda, flag in hand, at the official closing ceremony
Next: coordinating Rwanda's participation in the IYMS summit in Botswana, and preparing a bid to host the summit in Kigali in 2028.
09Press & stories
Ikirenga will represent Rwanda at the 21st International Youth Media Summit in Paris and, through a new partnership, bring filmmaking training to Rwandan youth.
A partnership between Ikirenga and the International Youth Media Summit opens training, global networks and annual summit places to young Rwandan creatives.
The 4th edition moves from Musanze to Kigali, 19 to 21 December at the Kigali Diplomat Hotel, with more dialogue on how art can drive the economy.
Ikirenga takes part as an observer in UNESCO's global meeting on the 2005 Convention in Paris, pushing for funding and skills for the creative sector.
A look at the Ikirenga Artistic Freedom Initiative and its work on the legal, social and economic barriers artists face, with a focus on women's voices.
10Partners & collaborators
Institutions and networks that have worked with Ikirenga Art and Culture Promotion, from Kigali to Paris and Montréal. Canadian partners of the foundation will be listed here as they join.
International network
Creative Rwanda Coalition, founded by Ikirenga, is an associate member
International festival
Ikirenga Canada and Rwanda took part in and supported the 21st summit, Paris 2026
International organization
Artistic Freedom Initiative (UNESCO-Aschberg); Ikirenga is an accredited observer to the 2005 Convention
Government
Funded the Ikirenga Artistic Empowerment Hub
Diplomatic mission
Guest country at the 2023 festival; its Deputy Ambassador addressed the 2025 edition
Diplomatic mission
Academic
Musanze campus hosted festival activities
Academic
Training partner for young artists
Cultural group
NGO
Embassies, tourism boards, cultural institutions and sponsors: let's create international events together.