Coltart rewards artists

Daily News

By Margaret Chinowaita

1 December 2011

Harare - Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart on Tuesday presented $10 000 each to four artists who took part in the 54th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale.

Coltart said the renowned artists; Tapfuma Gutsa, Calvin Dondo, Berry Bickle and Misheck Masamvu were able to showcase what Zimbabweans are capable of.

“We have limited resources to market artists. We appreciate their contributions and we are delighted to offer them $10 000 each as a token of appreciation to express the gratitude of the people of Zimbabwe.”

He said the artists aided government’s bid to market the country:  “These artists were able to market the country. It could have cost more to market Zimbabwe on CNN than it did with these artists so from our perspective it was a good deal.”

The minister hoped the gesture would encourage and inspire other artists to be creative in the future.

He however, said art was not really appreciated in the country and he is working to convince his colleagues in Cabinet.

“The Cabinet do not fully understand the impact of the exhibition at Venice Biennale. However, it was successful, we received 30 000 visitors on our pavilion and rare reviews.”

Deputy chairman of the National Art Gallery board Hosea Mapondera said this was a major development in the history of art.

“It is very big in the history of art in Zimbabwe. It is a milestone, pity that a lot of people did not turn up to witness this gesture of appreciation. However, artists deserve more support than we are giving them in terms of financial and material.”

Mapondera said government was trying to support but there was room for improvement.

Only Dondo and Gutsa were present at the presentation with Bickle and Masamvu out of the country.

“I would like to thank the minister with his gesture of appreciation. I hope it will inspire other artists. We are old but the beautiful ones are not yet born. They have paved way for opportunities,” said Dondo.

However, in an interview after the presentation, Gutsa said he welcomed the token of appreciation but felt it was too little.

“We got too little. Munyaradzi Chidzonga was given a lot and we are being paid ‘damages’. Zimbabwe needs to take artists seriously.”

Doreen Sibanda, director of the National Art Gallery was quoted earlier saying: “Participation in Venice was an expensive exercise, it required money for pavilion rental, work freighting, travel and upkeep, publications, invigilators and so on.

“We were able to raise $300 000 which included cash and kind, of which $100 000 was from our government. We were fortunate to garner sponsorship from British Council in Zimbabwe, the European Union, Institut Francaise, Museum of Monaco, and Principality of Monaco in addition to the Zimbabwean government.”

“We are very appreciative of these partners and do hope they are fully satisfied with the outcome.”

The exhibition of the artists’ work was curated by the National Art Gallery curator Raphael Chikukwa under the theme, “Seeing Ourselves: questioning our geographical landscape and space we occupy from yesterday, today and tomorrow”.

Chikukwa said the artists were powerful and their works were phenomenal leaving a mark at the Venice Biennale known as the Olympics of the art.

Chikukwa used his vast international network to secure Zimbabwe’s ticket to the Venice Biennale.

The curator hopes to take Zimbabwe to the next international art event in the coming years.