Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
RAPHAEL Chikukwa, National Gallery of Zimbabwe executive director, and Fortune Kaseke, a representative of the Higherlife Foundation, say their recent trip to Italy was a success.
They were in Turin where they attended the 57th Annual Conference of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM).
Zimbabwe made a huge impact at the conference, where a new Board of Trustees was elected, and Chikukwa was chosen as a member. Zimbabwe will host the CIMAM 2026 conference, having won the bid earlier this year in Barcelona, Spain.
More than 300 representatives are set to attend the CIMAM 2026 conference in Zimbabwe next year.
“The Turin Conference was a learning curve for my team and me, alongside the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Justice Maphios Cheda (Rtd.),” said Chikukwa.
“I extend my gratitude to the Board of CIMAM, Fondazione CRT, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, and the Fondazione Torino Musei for accommodating us.
“Allow me to thank the Higherlife Foundation, which has given a new lease on life to the Gallery, and has allowed us to prosper on the global stage.
“We are immensely grateful for their unwavering support and encourage corporations in Zimbabwe, and on the continent, to follow suit in supporting heritage and culture within their home nations.
“As for my appointment to the Board of Trustees of CIMAM, I am truly humbled and honoured, as it is not a victory for the Gallery and myself, but for the entirety of the Zimbabwean Republic.”
Kaseke said:
“Attending the CIMAM Conference for the first time was an eye-opening and deeply enriching experience.
“The conversations were rigorous yet inspiring, ranging from curatorial innovation to redefining community engagement and rethinking how museums communicate and collaborate.”
“For me, the experience affirmed how interconnected the global cultural landscape has become and highlighted the opportunity for Zimbabwe, through NGZ, to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of museum practice on the continent and beyond.”
He added:
“Their (museums) importance in society can be understood in three ways: they preserve identity and memory, ensuring that future generations understand where they come from, how their stories have evolved, and what values shape their nation.
“Museums stimulate public dialogue, giving communities a safe space to interrogate history, confront difficult truths, and explore new possibilities through creativity.
“They inspire innovation as artists, push boundaries and challenge conventional thinking – something that directly influences education, design, technology, and even public policy.”
