By Makonya Lloyd
(News Of The South) – The Manicaland Show of Arts (MANISA), a brainchild of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe -Mutare region has come of age, after commemorating its 15th edition over the weekend under the theme “Our Surroundings – Zvakatikomberedza”.
Hundreds of people from across Manicaland province among them the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Cde Christopher Mushohwe descended on Mutare National Gallery of Zimbabwe grounds to commemorate the show of arts in Manicaland.
MANISA’s vision is to promote resident visual artists from the seven districts of Manicaland Province by affording the artists an opportunity to showcase their talents in drawing, sculpturing, and textile design.
Speaking on the commemoration day, the guest of honour Dr Thokozile Chitepo who is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Art and Culture said her Ministry prioritises the increased participation of artists in the development and promotion of their products so as to develop quality art products which can be viable and competitive in the local and international markets.
She further stated that the government through the national policy framework, ZimAsset is expecting that the arts and culture sector become a more significant contributor to the economy as well as create employment.
Artists who participated in the MANISA exhibition however cited several challenges that they are facing in making their industry viable, which include the lack of markets, training and capacity building as well as difficult access to loan facilities. It is therefore imperative that the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture facilitate and promote creation of more training opportunities in different vocational institutions around the country to ensure the best art products are produced.
In her response to the challenges on lack of funding Dr Chitepo said her Ministry will work round the clock to seek opportunities for funding through loans and grants by engaging with existing loan funds such as SEDCO as well as re-establishing the arts development fund which was housed in the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
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