The Minister of State for Youth and Arts, Hon. Sandrine Umutoni, attended the closing ceremony of the 2026 Ubumuntu Arts Festival at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where she commended the festival for demonstrating the transformative power of the arts in preserving memory, promoting dialogue, and strengthening peace.

Reflecting on this year's festival theme, "Embracing Time: Holding On. Holding Together," the Minister of State emphasized that creativity is more than entertainment, describing it as a powerful tool for healing, fostering empathy, and building a shared future.

Hon. Sandrine Umutoni reaffirmed the Government of Rwanda's commitment to investing in culture and the creative economy, recognising their important role in creating employment opportunities for young people, strengthening national identity, and sharing Rwanda's stories with the world.

She also applauded the festival for its continued investment in emerging creative professionals and expressed appreciation to local and international artists, partners, and sponsors for their contributions to making the 2026 Ubumuntu Arts Festival a remarkable celebration of shared humanity.

The Ubumuntu Arts Festival continues to serve as a platform that uses the arts to promote remembrance, dialogue, reconciliation, and peace while nurturing Rwanda's growing creative sector.