Nakuru creatives tipped on how to navigate industry’s tough economic challenges
Creatives during a breakout session during the Creators Masterclass.
Ninety content creators, digital artists and other creatives in Nakuru have gained skills to strengthen their digital presence, improve the quality of their work and expand their access to markets through a Creators Masterclass aimed at turning their talents into sustainable sources of income.
The masterclass, organised by MG Innovation Hub at Baraza Media Lab, brought together emerging and established creatives for capacity-building sessions on digital growth, content creation, marketing and collaboration, while providing a platform for participants to share challenges and explore practical solutions.
The initiative is seeking to address gaps in the creative economy, including limited access to capital, inadequate equipment, fragmented networks and difficulties connecting creative products and services to paying markets.
For Hannah Maina, popularly known as Miss Maina, the masterclass provided an opportunity to overcome challenges that have been hindering her growth as a content creator.
Maina says she has been struggling with inconsistency and the feeling that she cannot grow her brand independently, which has affected her confidence and progress.
“I was feeling like I can't do it alone. It was pulling me down. The sessions are helping me identify ways to improve my work and build a support network,” she says.
She is now looking forward to becoming more consistent and producing better content, promising her audience “great content, consistency, and just amazing work.”
Eunice Kerubo, popularly known as Kesh, a digital creator, model and brand promoter, facilitated a session on digital growth, engaging participants on opportunities available in the creative economy.
Kerubo notes that the masterclass brought together aspiring and active creators who are eager to learn, share their experiences and find solutions to challenges affecting their work.
Eunice Kerubo, popularly known as Kesh, a digital creator, model and brand promoter, facilitated a session at the Creators Masterclass
Having started her creative journey in Nakuru, she says returning as a facilitator is giving her an opportunity to share her experience and help others navigate the industry.
“People should be more solution-oriented rather than problem-oriented. Creatives need to leverage one another's expertise and equipment instead of feeling compelled to own every resource required to produce content,” she says.
MG Innovation Hub Team Leader George Muturi says the masterclass is forming part of efforts to strengthen Nakuru's creative economy by equipping creatives with the skills and knowledge needed to develop products that respond to market demands.
Muturi notes that although Nakuru has a pool of creative talent, many artists and content creators are struggling to translate their skills into sustainable businesses due to limited capacity building, access to finance and market opportunities.
MG Innovation Hub Team Leader George Muturi says the masterclass is forming part of efforts to strengthen Nakuru's creative economy.
“Capacity building is important just to be able to capacity-build our creators and make them understand what the market needs,” he says, emphasizing the importance of developing products that meet customer expectations.
He explains that digital platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram are providing opportunities for creatives to reach wider audiences beyond Nakuru, market their products and connect with potential buyers.
As a follow-up, MG Innovation Hub is planning a boot camp where creatives will collaborate on projects, test their ideas and explore ways of improving the visibility and commercial potential of their work.