Artcaffe in Trouble After Advertising Competition That Pays in Coffee

Artcaffe is under siege after trying to come through for the youth in Kenya.

In an announcement of the contest dubbed #ARTofthecity competition, which was posted on their social media platforms on Tuesday, the restaurant said the contest is meant to enable Kenyan creatives to showcase their artwork.

"ANNOUNCING our #ARTofthecity competition! ⁣⁣Calling all creatives of the city...help us jazz up our take-away coffee cup and WIN BIG with Artcaffé! ⁣⁣Read the competition details by clicking the link in our bio or visiting our Facebook page to enter. ⁣⁣Tag your artistic friends and spread the word! 🎨. First price is: exhibition space in one of our restaurants for 2 months OR an internship with the Artcaffe Design Team for 2 months. AND FREE coffee for a year!"⁣

ANNOUNCING our #ARTofthecity competition! Calling all creatives of the city...help us jazz up our take-away coffee cup and WIN BIG with Artcaffé! Read the competition details below, and ENTER! Tag your artistic friends and spread the word! https://t.co/BZeofmSCPv pic.twitter.com/7VRZ1b1A6z

— Artcaffe (@ArtcaffeKenya) August 4, 2020

However, soon after the announcement was made, the restaurant found itself on the receiving end from Kenyans on social media who questioned the logic of rewarding art with free coffee.

In-spite of their effort to explain themselves and even offer their apologies, Kenyans on Twitter were having none of it:

Oh no @ArtcaffeKenya.
Exposure, internships and coffee are not valid currencies for creatives, or anyone else for that matter. Please take all the advice you’re being given and rethink your “competition”. It’s highly exploitative, and in bad taste.
Kindly. 🙏🏾

— Patricia Kihoro (@Misskihoro) August 5, 2020

Shame on you Artcaffe. No really, shame on you.
1 coffee a day for a year is Kes 91,250.
Offer that instead of a cup of coffee that no one needs. Also, you know the winner won’t be able to redeem everyday, that’s why you offered this.
Respect creatives, they deserve to be paid. pic.twitter.com/CBWrnrERZW

— Elayne (@ElayneOkaya) August 4, 2020

They’re paying in coffee.. yani ufanye hii kazi upewe maji moto na kahawa sachet ya 5bob..
Ayaya Hii ni unyama. pic.twitter.com/t4iGxYgpW8

— SHARON (@Tsharz) August 4, 2020

I just want to know why y’all thought this would be a good idea. How many people were in the team?? Was there a vote? Did they all agree that coffee and exposure is appropriate compensation for such work?

— missy (@nc_missy) August 4, 2020

You really should be ashamed of yourselves for even thinking this was something appropriate to put out.... How do you pay for someones talent in coffee??? This is akin to we pay in exposure.... SHAME ON YOU!!!

— AMG....🇰🇪 (@MsMuthoni) August 4, 2020

When you win that Artcaffe competition and you have to shop pic.twitter.com/1F4H1OtClj

— Droid (@droid254) August 4, 2020

Kamene who has always stood up for the youth was still not in agreement with what this initiative has to offer.

"Exposure will not pay my bills!" Angry Kamene said in a video on Kamene and Jalas KissFm.

Exposure hailipi bills!!!!! Pay creatives ala! #artcaffe #KameneAndJalas @Kiss100kenya @JalangoMwenyewe pic.twitter.com/POJKNXEwjH

— Kamene Goro (@KameneGoro) August 5, 2020

In another post seen on social media, Artcaffe reconsidered their offer after the public's voices were raised.

We hear you. Let's try this again...Re-launching our updated #ARTofthecity competition, where we are celebrating the creatives of our city. Design our holiday take-away cups, reach the city with your talent and more! Read updated competition details here:https://t.co/Z5qxF5dXTO pic.twitter.com/rk5sXhvv2k

— Artcaffe (@ArtcaffeKenya) August 5, 2020

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