NGZ to establish gallery in Vic Falls

Audrey Galawu

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe has said that the institution is set to build a new gallery in Chinotimba, Victoria Falls in a development that is meant to enhance expansion and diversity.

This comes as the NGZ has three galleries in the country with the main one in Harare, it’s second one in Bulawayo while the eastern border town of Mutare has the third gallery.

The NGZ has already flighted tenders for the construction of the main building, interact block and workshop, according to the tender advert. Deadline for bids is 100 hours on May 15 with a compulsory site visit, at Stand Number4224, Chinotimba Township, Victoria Falls, for bidders scheduled for May 8.

The new gallery space will cater for artists based in the city and also attract tourists from neighbouring countries and beyond.

Visual artist Alison Baker said the gallery is an excellent idea for Zimbabwean artists to showcase their talent to the international market.

“It is amazing to see this dream come true for us. The gallery will be a platform for our artists to not only create but also commercialise their art.

“Zimbabwean artists are talented but mostly unknown to the international market. This is a great opportunity to do so to travellers who visit the neighbouring countries and more so, Victoria Falls, in itself, is a great destination for travellers.

“It’s an opportunity to showcase our heritage through our rich art collections, develop the arts and invest in our culture.

NGZ director, Raphael Chikukwa said the hunger to make history has always and will continue to be the driver for us as a cultural institution.

“Our idea is to expand the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in line with the devolution agenda. It would be naive of us to shy away from the tourist resort City of Victoria Falls and also to shy away from the devolution agenda that is championed by the government.

“We want to add to the tourist basket and hope the tourists will stay an extra day in the resort City of Victoria Falls and we all benefit. The growth of Contemporary Art in Africa needs us as National Gallery of Zimbabwe to respond to by expanding the institution to other cities and towns in Zimbabwe.

“Those that came before us saw the birth of National Gallery head office in Harare, the second National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in the 70s and National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Mutare in 1999 and it’s our turn to continue the dream they started by establishing the 4th National Gallery of Zimbabwe in the resort City of Victoria Falls as part of the devolution agenda.

“Let’s grow the contemporary art practice together and to tour companies and hotels, allow me to say, let’s promote the art scene together. To the City of Victoria Falls, allow me on behalf of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe Board management and the Zimbabwean art scene to thank you for seeing beyond.

“We can do this together and for those that want to see the continued development of the arts in Zimbabwe, this is the time to join hands and make our country shine through this dream. We can do this together and for the future generations,” he said.

Chikukwa added that border countries such as Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia and the rest of Africa can add value to the dream.