Govt okays 58th CIMAM conference

Trust Khosa

Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub

NATIONAL Gallery of Zimbabwe executive director Raphael Chikukwa says they will make a final presentation to the Government next week ahead of this year’s 58th annual conference of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art, which will be hosted in Zimbabwe.

The mammoth visual arts event, scheduled to take place later this year at various galleries, received Government approval after Zimbabwe won the right to host during a stakeholders’ meeting last year in Barcelona, Spain.

The event was attended by art collector Han Nefkens, founder of the Han Nefkens Foundation in the Netherlands.

Notable attendees — including Suhanya Raffel, president of CIMAM and museum director of M+ in Hong Kong; NGZ director Chikukwa; Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, president of the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo and co-host of the 2025 annual conference in Turin; and Elvira Dyangani Ose — were part of the meeting.

Following Zimbabwe’s triumph to host the 58th edition of CIMAM, there has been a great deal of excitement among visual artists, as the country’s art collections remain in high demand internationally. Chikukwa said his team has been busy renovating the NGZ and other galleries in Victoria Falls to ensure they meet the November deadline.

“Preparations are well on course, and the Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, will give an update next week,” he said.

“Preparations are going accordingly, and guests are expected to arrive in Zimbabwe on November 19.

“We have been busy with preparations for the conference.” Last year, Chikukwa highlighted that CIMAM is not only an arts festival, but also a major tourism booster, with over 300 international curators and museum directors expected in Zimbabwe.

“The CIMAM Annual Conference will also promote cultural tourism in a big way, benefiting hotels and tour companies. As we prepare for hosting, it means job creation for the companies that are refurbishing our two galleries in Harare and Victoria Falls.

“Hosting the CIMAM Annual Conference is a form of soft power, and the gallery also thanks our parent ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture for allowing us to think beyond our borders.”

The curator noted that the 58th conference will give local artists an opportunity to form synergies with international museum directors.

“Local artists will benefit by interacting with CIMAM Annual Conference delegates, as they will visit their studios.

“It’s time for our local artists to prepare for the CIMAM Annual Conference coming to their doorstep.”

He also outlined the journey that led to the CIMAM conference being hosted in Harare.

“The conversations to host the CIMAM Annual Conference started when I was a delegate at the CIMAM Annual Conference in 2022 in Palma, Spain.

“The conversation continued, and I would like to thank the CIMAM board for listening to us.