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The National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Design Open Day brought many insights to the fore with students presenting their progress through an afternoon of presentation and exhibition of artwork. The school operates on a grant made out through Hivos from the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
The school has a diverse body of students as it enrols talented individuals regardless of background or physical ability. The Open Day took place on October 24 at the National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Design studios in Mbare.
The guest of honour at the event Inger Tveit, the counsellor to the Norwegian ambassador, delivered a speech on his behalf and congratulated the students of the National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Design for their achievements during the academic year that is now wrapping up. She pointed out that the creativity they were expressing gave good reason for the Embassy to continuously support the institution of learning.
Tveit expressed the Royal Norwegian Embassy’s pride in being associated with the school and said that the last 14 years of this association has seen the school changing in form and has seen more of its students becoming internationally recognized artists amongst them Admire Kamudzengerere, Virginia Chihota, Victor Nyakauru and Portia Zvavahera.
The economic potential that the school bears was emphasized by Tveit , who referred to the self-sustenance factor that has seen many of the school’s students utilise the system of education that gives them manually adept skills which only need their own choice of accessible materials to apply their creativity. The school aides in reducing unemployment and creates an ecologically conscious class of artists who make use of the traditional art media and found objects which are easily available in the artist’s surrounds.
A question was posed by Tveit to the audience on why a distant country would use its tax payer’s money to support culture in Zimbabwe. To this she stated “The reason for this is we think that a free and independent cultural life contributes to poverty reduction, development and reduces inequality.” She went on “Culture has also an economic aspect. Cultural industries are dynamic and make a substantial contribution to economic growth, value creation as well as employment and entrepreneurship.”
The affordability of enrolment and socially distinct makeup of the school’s faculty has an intermingling of students from different backgrounds among them is a former teacher and practicing sign-writer, Philip Machisa, whom at the age of 53 years old is now completing his first year at the institution. Machisa has had a wonderful experience as he stated that he is fulfilling his passion. “Art has always been my most loved endeavour since I was the age of 15 years old and up until now, I had not found the institution which would be able to help me fulfill my passion” Machisa said. “I was doing sign-writing for most of my life but I felt I needed some formal training in a much more artistic orientation so I applied to the National Gallery School of Visual Art and design and was granted the opportunity to achieve my dreams.”
When asked what the most interesting part about his learning was, he stated that he enjoyed the Theory modules offered at the institution as this also reciprocates his love for reading. “Naturally I am a teacher and the theory that is offered here is a cut above the rest. I have the largest library on art in the country at my disposal and the practical aspect follows as clockwork” Machisa said. “The personnel here have a lot of knowledge and they encourage me regardless of my age, the sky is the limit from here-on out.”
Upon being asked what he would want to do after completing school Machisa said that he would want to teach the youth as he is attaining a vast body of knowledge “Last year during my interview I answered that I would like to impart the knowledge I will gain to youth who are interested in art, money is a secondary issue as my main focus is to promote self-sustenance and empowerment. As at now there have been three students whom I have mentored in sign-writing and I have been tweaking up their calligraphic skills,” Machisa concluded.
Online Reporter