adminEntertainment Correspondent
THE National Gallery of Zimbabwe regional director, Elizabeth Muusha, has bemoaned lack of appreciation for visual art by locals, saying it has subsequently caused lack of local market and exposure for visual art products and artists. In an interview, Muusha said the situation was among a plethora of challenges being faced by the organisation whose mandate is to educate and bring awareness of the Zimbabwean culture through visual arts.
She also urged local visual artists who are also not spared in the quagmire to be professional and desist from discrediting and feeling jealous for each other.
“In a bid to realise our goals and objectives, the gallery has faced several challenges resulting in an impeded vision.
“Chief among them is lack of funding and limited resources.
“However, despite the financial hiccups, it is sad that our own people are not promoting local visual art products such as paintings, sculptures, photographs and craft-works.
“It seems they are still attracted to foreign glittery ornamental displays shunning our own.
“The situation has made life difficult for artists to market their products locally and it has not spared us neither,” she said.
She took a swipe at most schools who focus more on academic subjects than practical subjects, while shunning or paying little attention to individual talent identification and practical subjects.
“Gender imbalance in the visual arts sector has also become a shortcoming in the arts industry.
“It seems it is now a male dominated industry and we call upon teachers and parents to encourage female students to partake in the arts industry and quash a myth that arts is for boys and men only,” she added.
Online Reporter