COLE2CREA8, the artistic economic system and enterprise acceleration platform beneath the ‘COLE’CTIVE INITIATIVE’, has been launched as a citizen-powered programme geared toward changing creativity into jobs, enterprise, and inclusive financial alternative throughout Rivers State.
The programme will function throughout all 319 wards of the state, concentrating on creatives and artistic entrepreneurs in sectors similar to arts, trend, music, movie, design, crafts, and digital content material, based on a press release by the group
It’s designed to combine creativity into civic participation, enterprise growth, and media visibility, with a concentrate on organizing, supporting, and scaling artistic expertise.
Tonye Patrick Cole, founder, Cole’ctive Initiative, mentioned the platform reframes creativity as productive infrastructure relatively than casual exercise.
“Creativity is just not a facet economic system. It’s a critical driver of jobs, identification, and alternative. COLE2CREA8 connects expertise to construction, markets, and progress,” Cole mentioned.
The programme is structured to have interaction as much as 319,000 creatives and artistic entrepreneurs throughout the state, set up 319 artistic enterprise hubs and networks, activate 319 impression zones centered on artistic jobs and MSME progress, and combine artistic storytelling and marketplaces into 319 cell tv and digital platforms.
A consultant of THE COLE’CTIVE INITIATIVE mentioned the platform is concentrated on turning creativity into sustainable livelihoods. “COLE2CREA8 is about constructing bridges between expertise, enterprise, and markets. It’s designed to make sure that creativity interprets into actual financial outcomes,” the consultant mentioned.
Past creative expression, the programme helps enterprise readiness by way of coaching, networking, publicity, and enterprise help. It additionally hyperlinks creatives to funding pathways and civic platforms, whereas increasing media attain to attach artistic output with wider audiences, clients, and companions.
A artistic entrepreneur concerned in early engagements mentioned the platform affords a pathway from expertise to sustainable earnings.
“This platform treats creatives as entrepreneurs. It helps us transfer from expertise to structured enterprise and secure earnings,” the participant mentioned.
COLE2CREA8 is built-in into THE COLE’CTIVE INITIATIVE’s five-part technique of advocacy, activation, aggregation, acceleration, and alleviation, with a concentrate on embedding artistic enterprise into civic participation and media narratives to drive job creation, youth empowerment, and inclusive progress.
Inventive economic system stakeholders have described the initiative as well timed, noting that organized and visual artistic industries can drive each cultural growth and financial growth.
As Rivers State pursues financial diversification, COLE2CREA8 positions the artistic economic system as a central pillar of inclusive progress, reinforcing the position of creativity in producing employment, strengthening identification, and advancing shared prosperity.
