adminSophia Chese Arts Correspondent
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe has come to the rescue of crafters, who have been finding it tough to sell their wares, through starting the Gumiguru Crafts Fair, which will be launched this weekend.
The gallery has partnered with the National Handcrafts Centre for the project that will see crafters from all over Zimbabwe exhibiting and selling their products.
A spokesperson of the gallery said the main objective of the two-day event is to create opportunity for crafters to conduct business in an environment where there will be people who appreciate their talent.
“Crafters sell their wares in streets and it is something that is not good for their business, so we want to give them space that brings them to people who can buy their craft-work,” he said.
He highlighted that despite being an expression of talent, craft-work is an income-generating project which can sustain many livelihoods therefore the need to be taken seriously.
“The creative industry can contribute immensely to the economy of the country since it is in line with the economic blue print, Zim-Asset. Crafters are empowering themselves, people used to associate craft-work with basketry only but it have gone beyond that and we are encouraging people from all walks of life to come to the gallery this weekend and see different things that will be exhibited,” he said.
He said they are looking forward to be working with at least 40 crafters from all over the country.
“This is the first edition of the Gumiguru Craft Fair and we are hoping to continue doing it in the near future and it is open to every crafter out there though they will be a number of other crafters whom we have worked with before.”
Online Reporter