Branton Matondo
The dwindling art market has led to low consumption of paintings and sculptures placing artists’ livelihood at risk, the National Arts Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) Manicaland province has said.
Though a lot of Zimbabwean and African stories are told through expressive curving of stones and fine revealing of paintings, the same effort is not being complimented by the bearish market.
In an interview with TellZim News, NGZ Regional Director for Manicaland Elizabeth Muusha said the consumption of paintings and sculptors is currently in a sorry state and this has casted a dark cloud on artists livelihoods.
“Consumption of art is very low and it’s really affecting livelihoods of producers. It is our wish that we see better and improved markets in post Covid 19 era,” said Muusha.
A survey at National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Mutare revealed that sculptures on sale range from US$ 200 to US$ 350.
She added that artists are left out of National economic blueprint National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) because there is no market to propel them.
“As a nation, we talk of taking Zimbabwe to a middle income economy by 2030 but as arts sectors, our hearts bleed because there is no market. There is a gap when it comes to understanding the power of painting and sculptor. It is our wish to have a stable market so that artistic works are recognized,” said Muusha.
Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) Business Development and Marketing Manager for Manicaland Nelia Chabuka promised that SAZ will assist artists in breaking existing barriers.
“As SAZ, the question that comes to our minds is, what role are we playing to make these artists go further and compete internationally? So we have standards in place that will assist them to break all the barriers, be it quality barriers or language barriers to mention but a few. Whatever they are using in the art and whatever they producing is it of good quality?” said Chaduka.
She added that artists should stand their ground and let their voices be heard.
“Regions like Manicaland do not appreciate art, so it’s high time that they should stand up for their own and make their stories known. It starts with them and no one else,” she added.
As a way to enrich the culture of appreciating art, Muusha said government needs to review the education curriculum and make art one of the main subjects.
“The education system is not recognizing art. Art time is composition writing time or correction time or gardening time. There is need to review the education system,” added Chaduka.
