NextGem

Introduction

Introduction

Next Generation Mi-Artist (NextGeM) is a talent search & empowerment agenda for emerging music creatives in the church.

Overview

Until recently—unlike in the West, where music was structured as a thriving industry—creatives in Africa generally, and Uganda in particular, were overlooked. Musicians of earlier generations were often regarded as failures, and few parents wanted their children to pursue artistry. Although music was taught in schools, it produced few graduates, and even those struggled in the job market and beyond.

More recently, a handful of self-made, successful musicians emerged, attracting corporate sponsorships and endorsements, entering politics, and influencing communities. The government has also begun to streamline and empower the sector, revamping copyright law and other enabling policies.

The situation was even tougher for church creatives. Christian music in Uganda was introduced primarily as a tool for ministry and evangelism. Citing Matthew 10:8—“Freely you have received; freely give”—gospel music was misrepresented, especially within Pentecostal circles (arguably the largest stakeholder in contemporary Christian music), as something that should not enter the marketplace. Some spiritual leaders used this interpretation to retain artists as unpaid labour in their churches or ministries, even as they provided space for those artists to develop.

Faced with real-life demands, some artists left the church to pursue “secular” opportunities. In response, many church leaders turned a deaf ear to young talent, and support for artist development within the church stagnated.

Consider the cost: how many people could be meaningfully employed if Christian music and its artists were recognised as a legitimate labour force and paid professionally? How many billions could individuals and the government earn annually—through incomes and taxes—if appropriate policies and economic frameworks were applied? How much more sustainable could churches become in funding ministry and community service?

It is not a sin to benefit from God-given talents. Artists can serve as ministers and as employees of their churches, or they can pursue professional opportunities outside the church while remaining connected and relevant to it. The Church—the major stakeholder in Christian music—needs to reconsider its perception. NextGEM addresses this by preparing a new generation of effective artists and reshaping the Church’s understanding of faith-inspired creativity.

Aims and Objectives of NextGEM

Identify and empower emerging creatives in the church as Minister-Artists (“Mi-Artists”).

Facilitate dialogue and mentorship among artists, church leaders, and stakeholders to shift mindsets so faith-inspired creativity is valued as both ministry and industry (“Mindustry”).

Equip church leaders to act as executive producers who nurture and steward creatives in their congregations for mutual benefit.

Improve livelihoods of Christian artists and related stakeholders by promoting understanding and enforcement of their copyright, neighboring rights, and labour rights.

Support increased incomes for church-based artists by streamlining the gospel creative economy.

Create jobs by professionalizing and structuring the Christian creative industry—helping artists, producers, and church leaders treat Christian music and arts as viable ministry and employment.

Raise effective change agents who will advocate for the holistic value of Christian/gospel music and arts.

Justification of NextGEM

Unlike typical talent shows that focus on crowning a single winner each season, NextGEM aims to influence culture through sustained mindset change. Winners and all participants become change agents, and we maintain ongoing engagement with them—and their churches—season after season, building practical links to the marketplace. Fans are also prepared and involved as they follow the journey.

NextGEM serves as an accessible entry point—a “soft” platform that is welcoming rather than confrontational—making it easier to share our message of change. It cuts across denominational lines and allows us to address serious challenges while keeping the process engaging and enjoyable.

In line with our aims and objectives, NextGEM will raise “Mi-Artists” who are ready to operate within the “Mindustry” (ministry + industry).

It also generates quality media content: proceedings will be broadcast on TV and social media platforms, extending reach and reinforcing the culture-shift message.

Methodology
NextGEM will be implemented in the following stages:

Call for entries & shortlisting:Announcements will run in the media, through churches, and on other platforms, inviting registrations via our website and designated physical locations.

Round 1:Each year we will target a set number of participants from every region. Entries will be screened in the first round to select the top ten per region (five women and five men), who advance to the second round.

Round 2:The ten finalists will present an original composition, either a cappella or with acoustic accompaniment. From these, the top two per region (one woman and one man) will be selected to the final.

Final: Each finalist will receive a professional audio and video recording of their song, which will be entered into the VIGA Music Awards “New Artist of the Year” category for public voting. All nominees receive prizes and take part in a national tour.

Who can attend NextGEM and how to qualify?

NextGEM is for raw talent—individuals who have never recorded a song—and for emerging young artists who have not yet had a breakthrough. To qualify, applicants must complete a registration form and return it with an endorsement from their spiritual leader or local church pastor/priest (see attached forms).

Annual activity schedule

Why Support NextGEM?

NextGEM is a unique platform whose objectives positively impact people, businesses, institutions, and government. Its outcomes create jobs and streamline existing ones, improving incomes for stakeholders in the Christian creative industry. This will expand revenues for corporate partners and, in turn, broaden the government’s tax base.

For sponsors in particular, NextGEM is an ideal give-back platform that strengthens customer loyalty. As a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, it also delivers direct marketing and business returns, including:

Title sponsorship

Product sampling and/or on-site sales

Presenting an award at the VIGA Music Awards

Experiential activations and marketing at VIGA events

Promotional opportunities with our audiences

Hospitality, information handouts, and branding at VIGA events

Brand ambassadorships with VIGA Music Awards winners and nominees

Advertising in the VIGA Awards souvenir magazine

Brand visibility across various advertising channels—press, radio, TV, outdoor, social media, website, etc.

Spiritual formation: Create space for worship, prayer, and reflection tailored to creatives.

Community & care: Build trusted peer relationships, mentorship, counseling and constructive feedback, and prayer support platform.

Collaboration: Catalyse cross-disciplinary projects (music × film × visual art × dance × fashion × literature × digital).

Service & outreach: Channel creative gifts into community service, civic good, and values-driven campaigns.

The Arts Fraternity Fellowship (TAFF)

The Arts Fraternity Fellowship: ‘Wholesome Edification, Growth & Impact’

This is a regular gathering for creatives to share, pray, worship, and find faith‑inspired counsel.

1. Background & Rationale

Uganda is a deeply faith-inspired nation—predominantly Christian—where music, film, visual art, dance, fashion, literature, and digital media shape public conversation. Creatives carry significant cultural influence but often work in isolation, with limited spaces for spiritual grounding, peer support, and values-based collaboration. A regular fellowship that blends faith + craft can nurture a harmonious culture and amplify messages that uplift society.

2. Vision

A faith‑rooted, collaborative creative community shaping a hopeful, progressive, and harmonious culture and spirit of a united Uganda.

3. Mission

To convene Uganda’s arts and creative fraternity regularly for prayer, worship, sharing, and mutual growth—strengthening character, craft, and collaboration for positive cultural impact.

Objectives