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Special Correspondent
After two decades heading the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ), Doreen Sibanda is bowing out, but not from serving the sector.
The outgoing executive director bade farewell to staff at the institution last Friday. However, what is clear is that her departure is not entirely a loss to the sector.
What informs this position is that speakers at the farewell reception held at the NGZ, raised the need for the creation of an advisory council for the creative industry in the country.
And the view that Sibanda’s “retirement” might be short-lived was buttressed by comments from the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry, when she suggested: “We have a special project for you…We will give you a few days’ rest…It follows you will be busy…”
For her part, Sibanda spoke of reaching the “age of retirement” and thanked staff at the gallery for support that enabled her to ride the challenges and achieve milestones.
Sibanda was remarkably calm for such an emotional occasion; was quite jovial and, during a shared moment she spoke of and appeared to look forward to spending time at the family project near Mvuma, in the Midlands.
However, for a brief moment as she recalled her two decades-long journey at the National Gallery, she was emotional, choked and shed tears.
Someone was quick to offer her a facial tissue.
While that was an emotional moment, it showed how connected to the arts, the gallery staff and Sibanda was, in addition to being down-to-earth.
Her nexus to the arts was not just manifested in her first role during the period 1981 – 1988 when she was the NGZ’s first education officer.
Somewhere along that journey, she operated Mutupo Gallery.
There are several milestones accomplished during this journey: The Second International Congress of African Cultures; the Artists Against Aids campaign; establishment of the Chitungwiza Arts Centre; Renovation of the roof of the NGZ; the several Venice Biennales that have seen Zimbabwe taking part in this “Olympic of the Arts”; exhibitions in the Czech Republic, Russia and Zimbabwe; and significantly publications, which are an important contribution to documenting the various phases of Zimbabwean art – Calvin Dondo; Zimbabwe Integrated Teacher Education; Zimbabwe Stone Sculpture – A retrospective 1957–2004; and Mawonero: Modern and Contemporary Art in Zimbabwe.
Sibanda came in for praise for raising Zimbabwe’s position as one of the leading art producers in the world during her tenure at NGZ and for grooming many young artists.
But it was Daves Guzha of Theatre in The Park, who spoke of the huge challenge for the sector and suggested to the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation the need for the country to have an advisory council for the creative sector.
Then National Arts Council’s Nicholas Moyo suggested that Sibanda’s new role could be through inputting into the sector so that it transitions to an industry, adding: “We are welcoming a consultant back into the industry.”
National Archives’ Irvine Murambiwa stressed the need for collaboration and co-operation among people in the arts and heritage sectors, instead of them operating in silos. The “retirement” allows her to move on to another activity by using the free space to exploit her creative ability in the creative and cultural industry.
For her service, Sibanda was presented with a sculpture by one of the old masters of sculpture art, Sylvester Mubayi
The farewell event was attended by many from the creative sector and fellow artists.
Dr Solomon Guramatunhu, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery, Dr Godfrey Mahachi from the National Monuments and Museums, creative artist, writer/lecturer Ignatius Tirivangani Mabasa, Dr Misheck Sibanda and Dr Martin Rushwaya both from the Office of the President and Cabinet, were among some of the luminaries who turned up for the farewell event.
In the interim, Dr Guramatunhu explained that Raphael Chikukwa, the chief curator at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, will be the acting director.
Online Reporter