Story by Patience Nyagato
ZIMBABWE’S continued participation at the Venice Biennale in Italy is proving to be more than an artistic showcase, with the country’s consistent presence now opening doors to global partnerships, collaborations and opportunities for the cultural sector.
For eight editions, Zimbabwe has used the prestigious global platform not only to exhibit contemporary art, but to position itself within influential international cultural networks.
The relationships built in Venice are now translating into tangible benefits for Zimbabwe’s arts industry.
National Gallery of Zimbabwe Executive Director, Raphael Chikukwa, says collaborations born out of meetings held here in Venice have resulted in partnerships with institutions such as the Mellon Foundation and Higherlife Foundation, while new cultural ties have also emerged between Zimbabwe and Italy.
“Over the years, there are so many synergies that have been created. You are talking about our artists being showcased by big galleries in New York, in London, in Paris and many other spaces like in Romania,” he said.
“And so there are a lot of synergies that have come out of the Venice Biennale. I would like to say when I came here in 2024, the synergy that we have today with the Mellon Foundation was born out of a meeting we had just down at a restaurant near the bridge here when we discussed how the Foundation could collaborate with us.
“One of the most important collaborations as well, when I came here with Vice President Mohadi in 2024, I received an email from Joanna Masiiwa whilst I was here in Venice. That led to the collaboration we now have with the Higherlife Foundation. I am very grateful that the Higherlife team is here. This is where our discussion started, right here in Venice, in this building called Church Santa Maria della Pietà, which is the Zimbabwe Pavilion.”
He added that the engagements continue to elevate Zimbabwean artists onto global platforms, with local creatives now gaining visibility in major galleries and exhibitions in cities such as New York, London, Paris and Romania.
The growing international confidence in Zimbabwe’s arts sector has also seen the country securing the hosting rights for the 58th Annual Conference of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art set for Harare in November.
For Zimbabwe, the Venice Biennale is no longer just about exhibiting art in a city built on water; it is about building lasting cultural diplomacy, global influence and international opportunity through creativity.
