The Allen Onyema Artistic
Development Grant

The Creative Writing Entrepreneurship Program (TCWEP) is a free, six-week creative incubator launching during International Women’s Month 2026.

Designed for African women aged 25–65, the program supports stay-at-home mothers, caregivers, women returning after career breaks, midlife women seeking new income pathways, and professionals exploring creative enterprise.
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TCWEP equips participants with practical, income-generating writing and content skills, including freelance writing, digital publishing, content creation, proposal writing, consulting, and intellectual property awareness. Through structured training, mentorship, enterprise coaching, and market exposure, participants graduate with deployable skills, defined income pathways, and the confidence to operate as independent creative professionals or micro-entrepreneurs.

Scope

TCWEP combines creative writing, storytelling craft, and creative enterprise development. The curriculum covers memoir, nonfiction, opinion writing, content writing, and narrative storytelling, alongside business-facing skills such as pitching, digital publishing, audience development, and intellectual property basics.

Participants are introduced to local and international publishing and content markets, paid platforms, and income opportunities within the creative economy. The program also includes mentorship, peer learning, curated public conversations, and a final showcase designed to build visibility, confidence, and professional readiness.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

Participants engage in:

Creative labs and masterclasses

Structured mentorship and one-on-one feedback clinics

Access to rehearsal space and basic technical support

Writing rooms and collaborative work sessions

Career-focused sessions on contracts, ethics, governance, and intellectual property

A final curated showing or staged presentation of works-in-progress

STRUCTURE

Format: Cohort-based residency

Delivery: Onsite

Duration: Fixed residency period

Participants: Selected theatre practitioners working in mixed teams

Outcome: Works-in-progress and staged excerpts

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ELIGIBILITY

TCWEP is open to African women aged 25–65.
No prior writing experience is required.

Participation is free, but selected participants must commit to 100 percent attendance and full program participation.

DELIVERY METHOD

Onsite

SELECTION PROCESS

Admission into TCWEP is competitive and merit-based.
Participants are selected through an open call and assessed on:
Clarity of motivation and intent
Commitment to completing the full six-week program
Interest in developing writing as an income-generating skill
Diversity of background, experience, and perspective
Selection prioritises women who are economically active but structurally excluded from traditional creative or professional pathways, including caregivers, women in transition, and those returning to the workforce.
Final selections are made by the program curatorial team, and successful applicants will be notified ahead of the program start date.

M

ELIGIBILITY

TCWEP is open to African women aged 25–65.
No prior writing experience is required.

Participation is free, but selected participants must commit to 100 percent attendance and full program participation.

DELIVERY METHOD

Onsite

SELECTION PROCESS

Admission into TCWEP is competitive and merit-based.
Participants are selected through an open call and assessed on:
Clarity of motivation and intent
Commitment to completing the full six-week program
Interest in developing writing as an income-generating skill
Diversity of background, experience, and perspective
Selection prioritises women who are economically active but structurally excluded from traditional creative or professional pathways, including caregivers, women in transition, and those returning to the workforce.
Final selections are made by the program curatorial team, and successful applicants will be notified ahead of the program start date.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
TCWEP runs for six consecutive weeks, with onsite sessions held once weekly on Saturdays. Participants are expected to attend all sessions and complete assigned exercises.
Yes. On-site childcare support will be available during program sessions to reduce participation barriers for mothers and caregivers.
Yes. Participants who complete 100 percent of the program will receive a Certificate of Completion from MMÉLÌ Arts Foundation.
No. TCWEP is designed for both beginners and women with informal or emerging writing experience.
Yes. TCWEP is fully funded and offered at no cost to selected participants.
Yes. The program is specifically designed for women exploring writing as a new or expanded income pathway
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