Story by Farai Gwaze
THE visual arts sector is emerging as a notable contributor to Zimbabwe’s economy, with exports recording strong growth.
Beyond economic gains, the creative industry continues to provide sustainable livelihoods for artists.
Hugh Mubaiwa is one of the artists whose work has secured a foothold in the export market, translating creativity into gainful employment.
“As artists, we find opportunities in that there are people who see and hear about our works through exhibitions to buy our works. There are also those abroad who hear about us through exhibitions. If institutions like the National Gallery could access funding to support budding artists, or even scout new artists, it would help a lot,” he said.
Collectors and industry observers say Zimbabwean visual art continues to command respect internationally, underpinned by a strong reputation built over decades.
“What I have seen in the past couple of years, since I have taken an interest in collecting art, is that Zimbabwean art is really highly revered worldwide. It is really highly respected as a lot of our artists do very well, and they would sell in some of the biggest cities,” Art Collector Peggy Mapondera said.
Executive Director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Mr Rafael Chikukwa, highlighted the integral role that the creative works play towards Zimbabwe’s economy.
“I am sure art on its own is an economic driver in so many ways, because the artists create work in their studios. They buy art materials locally, but they sell these artworks mostly to international buyers. So those containers that leave Zimra have to get a CD1 form for that container to leave the country. Most of the art buyers come from America, the Netherlands and Germany, and they book hotels for them to come. So we need to be able to create a database of how these are trickling in, in order for us to be able to see the value,” he said.
Formalisation and capacitation of artists is integral to ensure growth of the artwork sector, most notably appreciating their significant contribution towards economic growth within the arts space.\
