Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
HIGHERLIFE Foundation has partnered with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe to refurbish its facilities across the country in preparation for the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM), scheduled for next year.
Renovations are currently in full swing at the National Gallery in Harare.
To date, workers have erected a perimeter fence, painted the interior of the gallery, fixed staff toilets and drilled a solar-powered borehole. In a statement, Higherlife Foundation co-founder Tsitsi Masiyiwa highlighted the new Arts & Culture Pillar initiative, which is meant to empower visual artists.
“Last week, Higherlife Foundation launched a new Arts & Culture Pillar, a milestone that fills me with pride. Thank you, Joanna, for inspiring this journey. We have already begun supporting the renovation of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, including its galleries in Harare and Bulawayo, as well as the Victoria Falls National Gallery, in preparation for the upcoming CIMAM International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art—an event that will shine a spotlight on Zimbabwe’s artistic brilliance.
“If you have never stepped inside one of our galleries, I urge you to do so.
“Immerse yourself in the stories etched in stone, wood, and paint by generations of Zimbabwean artists.
“Support this growing community that is preserving our heritage and ensuring our culture stands tall with pride and dignity on the world stage.”
Masiyiwa, who was inspired by her daughter Joanna to support the arts sector, urged parents to empower their children studying art.
“Growing up, the phrase ‘African culture’ was often associated with darkness, danger, or things to be avoided.
“Sadly, this poor distinction between harmful practices and our rich, life-giving traditions made me turn away, even from things as beautiful as our art and sculptures.
“I once dismissed these masterpieces, believing they were ‘demonically inspired.’
“One of my daughters, who studied art and is actively engaged with some of the world’s great museums and galleries—including the Serpentine, the National Gallery, and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town—opened my eyes.
“I have since come to realise that our history, culture, and stories are not just treasures of the past; they are living gifts we inherit and must safeguard. They ground us in values of respect, dignity, and the power of community,” she added. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) hailed the Higherlife Foundation for refurbishing the arts hub.
