Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
ZIMBABWE has won the bid to host the 58th annual conference of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM), scheduled for next year, at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
This was announced recently in Barcelona, Spain, during an event held at the residence of art collector Han Nefkens, founder of the Han Nefkens Foundation. The gathering featured notable guests, including Suhanya Raffel, president of CIMAM and Museum Director of Museum M+ in Hong Kong, as well as Raphael Chikukwa, director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.Other distinguished guests included Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, president of the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo and co-host of the 2025 annual conference in Turin, and Elvira Dyangani Ose.
In an interview with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub, Chikukwa said hosting the CIMAM annual conference represents a transformative opportunity for local visual artists, art collectors, and enthusiasts.
“The hosting of the CIMAM Annual Conference in Zimbabwe in 2026 is significant not only for our nation but for Africa as a whole.
“This event will bring together at least 300 global museum directors and curators, allowing them to experience Zimbabwean art firsthand.
“It provides a unique opportunity for both artists and curators to engage with global museum leaders attending the conference. Furthermore, this will be the first time the CIMAM Annual Conference is held in Africa,” he stated.
“The CIMAM Annual Conference will also promote cultural tourism in a big way, benefiting hotels and tour companies. As we prepare for hosting, it means job creation for the companies that are refurbishing our two galleries in Harare and Victoria Falls.
“Hosting the CIMAM Annual Conference is a form of soft power, and the gallery also thanks our parent ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture for allowing us to think beyond our borders.” The curator noted that the 58th conference will provide local artists with the opportunity to create synergies with international museum directors.
“Local artists will benefit by interacting with CIMAM Annual Conference delegates, as they will visit their studios.
“It’s time for our local artists to prepare for the CIMAM Annual Conference coming to their doorstep.”
He also narrated the journey that led to CIMAM conference being hosted in Harare.“The conversations to host the CIMAM annual conference started when I was a delegate at the CIMAM annual conference in 2022 in Palma, Spain.
“The conversation continued, and I would like to thank the CIMAM board for listening to us.
“Most importantly, the gallery and CIMAM Annual Conference have a parallel history.
“CIMAM Annual Conference was founded in 1962, and our iconic ICAC (International Conference on African Cultures) was also founded in 1962. This brings our two institutions together. The gallery shared this history with the CIMAM Board, and they saw it fit to bring the CIMAM annual conference to Zimbabwe.”
Chikukwa assured locals that they will make Zimbabwe proud.
“We need to deliver and make Zimbabwe proud through hosting the CIMAM Annual Conference in 2026.
“Currently, the gallery (NGZ) is working with its partners to give both head office galleries in Harare and Victoria Falls a facelift.
“These partners include the Mellon Foundation and Higherlife Foundation. The gallery is also working with its content committee, supported by an African content committee consisting of other African curators and members of the diaspora.
“Before the end of the year, the CIMAM board and the gallery will announce the content of the CIMAM Annual Conference 2026,” he explained.
