adminAt the gallery
In 1962, Frank McEwen found the need of establishing a school to bestow the National Gallery with works for exhibitions here and abroad.
In its studio space, the Workshop School had the likes of Kingsley Sambo and Nicholas Mukomberanwa producing artwork that would soon become the modern day generation’s heritage.
Soon the artistic direction of the nation was veering away from themes and settings that were all, but detached from the African way of life to the use of locally accessible materials such as stone and wood.
Paintings depicted township and rural idylls that expressed perspectives never before viewed by the art world.
In 1975, the Workshop School was dispersed, however, its impact on the local art scene had been substantial and with Independence came the resurrection of the school with the support of British American Tobacco.
Since 1981 the BAT Visual Arts School has produced a great number of artists such as Chikonzero Chazunguza, Lovemore Kambudzi and Doris Kampira.
The school, now known as the National Gallery School of Visual Arts and Design, has a strong philosophy to facilitate art education at no expense to the student.
Studio space is available to the students and young upcoming artists are exposed to career development activities such as workshops and residencies both here and abroad.
In essence, one not only receives training in art but is educated in the world that surrounds that art through being granted networking skills that give them a means of marketing and sustaining oneself regardless of any circumstance.
The lecturing staff of the School of Visual Arts and Design consists of artists who have thrived in the industry and are driven to impart their knowledge to their students.
Such is the case of Doris Kampira, an instructor and widely known visual artist who is also an alumnus of the school.
“I studied at the then BAT Visual Arts Studios in 1995. Upon attaining my certificate I was chosen to take the third-year course, which usually was the case for students with immense talent.”
The school offered a curriculum centred on drawing for first year students and thereafter, students returning for second year would then be taught various other subjects such as painting and sculpture.
Nowadays the programme runs for two years with new subjects such as design and photography on offer. After graduating, a student may return on being chosen for the Artist-In-Residence programme.
The student intake used to be 12 a year as compared to the current 20.
“Our lecturer to student ratio is at 1:7, so each and every student gets the lectures attention and is helped to develop their skills,” said Kampira.
The school also has part-time lecturers from different organisations and institutions who assist to cater to subjects such as design and new media.
Kampira goes on: “Anyone who is interested in enrolling at the School of Visual Arts and Design needs to be dedicated to art as we offer a programme that is set for two years, concentrating several subjects that are usually done in four.”
The school is keeping ahead of the pack by organising workshops with individuals from many parts of the art industry whilst engaging the students with acclaimed practitioners here and abroad.
Online Reporter