Banker’s Checklist for Creatives

At the recent CTRL + CREATE Forum, an initiative by the British Council and Kuonyesha Art Fund, creatives gathered not just to showcase their work but to explore how to build sustainable, bankable careers in the creative economy. One standout session was led by banker Kyosiga, who offered a practical checklist for creatives hoping to access financing. She highlighted several key challenges: many creatives fail to track their earnings, lack proper financial records, and operate informally without registered entities or systems to manage royalties.

These gaps make it difficult for banks to assess their creditworthiness, especially when there’s no consistent cash flow or collateral. Kyosiga stressed the need to formalize creative businesses, build financial patterns, and ensure operations can continue even in the founder’s absence. She also urged creatives to communicate openly with their banks, especially when facing challenges, since financial institutions can restructure or extend loans when engaged early. With support structures like the African Guarantee Fund and fintech innovations offering alternatives to traditional collateral, Kyosiga’s advice served as both a reality check and a roadmap. Her message was clear: creativity and credibility must go hand in hand. To become truly bankable, artists must move from passion-driven hustle to disciplined, intentional enterprise.

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