This call for applications is now closed.
Applications were accepted until July 3, 2026. Thank you to everyone who participated. The results will be announced at the end of July 2026.
⚠️ Applications have been closed since July 3, 2026.
Following a first edition focused on new narratives, MansA’s cultural and creative project incubator has opened applications for its second cohort, centered on the theme “innovation and African worlds.”
For the 2026–2027 season, MansA Lab, MansA’s incubator, is placing innovation at the heart of its support efforts to explore how African communities and their diasporas are envisioning new narratives and practices and reinventing public spaces in the digital age.
Through this call for proposals, MansA Lab invited entrepreneurs to answer the question: What connects the African worlds in the context of technological change? The selected projects will use innovation—whether editorial, technological, or in terms of usage—to explore new narratives and strengthen the ties between African memories and possible futures.
Fields of interest
- • Audiovisual: film, TV series, animation, video games, and immersive content
- • Innovative media: web radio stations, podcasts, platforms, newsletters, influencer agencies
- • Publishing and visual arts: comics, webtoons, art galleries
- • Fashion and interdisciplinary projects: design, music, graphic design, cross-media
Who is eligible to apply?
The call for applications was open to cultural entrepreneurs (any adult, with no age limit) based in France, including those from Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Mayotte, and Réunion, whose projects were in the early stages or under development.
Support tailored for cultural entrepreneurs
The incubation program combines mentoring, strategic guidance, and shared resources. Participants will receive training in project management, business models, communication, editorial and artistic content, and fundraising.
The selected projects will also have access to industry expertise, production resources, and a network of institutional, cultural, and financial partners.
Program Overview
12 selected projects
Incubation period: October 2026 to June 2027
Incubation fee: €200 per month per project
Hosted by MansA – Maison des Mondes Africains, in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, with access to workspaces, meeting rooms, and event spaces.
Selection criteria
Applications were evaluated based on the quality of the entrepreneurial approach, the innovative nature of the projects, and their ability to reshape perceptions of the African world and its diaspora communities.
Calendar
- ✓ May 12, 2026: Applications open
- ✓ June 15, 2026: informational webinar
- ✓ July 3, 2026: Deadline for applications
- ✓ Mid-July 2026: Selection Committee
- September 2026: Public announcement of the winners
The application period is now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a project. The results will be announced at the end of July 2026.
Application Guidelines
Applications for this year's event are now closed.
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