Stichting Mali Blues International

The foundation aims to promote cultural exchange, cooperation, and knowledge transfer between Malian and Dutch musicians, as well as to support artists in their professional development and international mobility.

The foundation seeks to achieve this goal by initiating, facilitating, and organizing cultural, educational, and artistic activities. In addition to an annual cultural event to be organized in the Netherlands (potentially with expansion to other countries in Europe), the foundation also intends to support several local projects in Mali and/or the Netherlands annually. Creating a sustainable and transparent structure for cooperation forms an essential starting point in this regard.

Activities

Cultural exchange, cooperation and knowledge transfer between Malian and Dutch musicians

The foundation will organize one event annually and 1 to 2 projects in Mali or the Netherlands. In doing so, the foundation will ensure:

• guaranteeing fair remuneration and transparent financial handling and adherence to payment terms.
• providing insight into the accounting to project participants and communicating transparently about this. It must be clear which costs and revenues events and projects must be taken into account. 
• guiding artists with professional and business matters.
• fostering long-term collaborative relationships with artists.

Facilitating a structural cultural corridor between Mali and the Netherlands (Europe)

The foundation will realize the structural cultural corridor between the Netherlands and Mali for its events and projects:

• supporting and facilitating participating artists with their visa applications and providing official invitations
• maintaining contacts with embassies, the Ministry of Culture in Mali, cultural institutions, funds, festivals, and venues in the Netherlands and Mali
• organizing concerts, tours, and educational projects with a focus on cultural exchange
• building and managing an international network of cultural partners

Promoting intercultural understanding and social connection

The foundation aims to promote this through, among other things:

• organizing cultural events with a focus on similarities and cooperation. 
• developing educational programs, lesson packages, and workshops for (music) education and cultural centers.
• producing and distributing cultural and artistic content. 
• stimulating collaborative projects between artists from different cultures in both Mali and the Netherlands.

Rejuvenation and transfer of cultural knowledge

The foundation will achieve this goal by, among other things:

• organizing 1 to 2 small-scale educational projects or talent development initiatives per year, aimed at young people aged 15 - 35 in Mali.
• guiding young artists from the very beginning towards independence and on the path to becoming professional and financially independent artists. 
• facilitating exchanges between these young target groups and artists in Mali and the Netherlands. 
• developing audience-oriented programs and presentations in the Netherlands to generate funds. 
• utilizing digital media and platforms for knowledge sharing.

 Plans / future vision / draft policy plan 2026 - 2030

Establishment and maintenance of the foundation

With the following activities:

- organising 1 annual event and 1 to 2 smaller projects on location in Mali and/or the Netherlands:

- 2027 Indigenous Nomads Project - June/July
- 2027/2028  Mali Blues - 40 years. Summer. More Indigenous Nomads + Joep Pelt & Bounaly + 1 to 2 stars. .
- 2028 Exchange project spring or autumn with 4 female musicians (2 from each country) / support project Bounaly ML
- 2029 Tribute festival Ali Farka Touré, concerts, workshops, film and exhibition in Amsterdam. Collaboration with major venues and festivals.

Ongoing projects:

- working on the furnishing of Niafo Idjé, the “artists in residence” location / B&B. This creative hub needs to be equipped with sound and recording equipment so that
music can be created, rehearsed, and recorded.
- Initiating more activities with the theme Indigenous Nomads / music projects with musicians based in the Netherlands with diverse roots and Malian musicians.
- Gathering knowledge regarding all aspects of artist mobility, EU visa regulations, etc. for projects of the foundation and for assisting artists going on tour
- Expanding the network of cultural partners, attending networking events
- Providing artists from Mali with insight into all business aspects of projects
- Striving for ANBI status, recruiting sufficient donors to support the annual program