by artweb
In a landmark move to foster the growth and development of the arts sector in Southern Africa, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and the National Arts Council of South Africa (NACSA) have formalised their commitment to collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The signing ceremony, held on September 9, 2024, at NACSA’s Head Office in Newtown, Johannesburg, marked the beginning of a promising partnership between the two institutions.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Napoleon Nyanhi, NACZ’s recently appointed Executive Director, and Ms. Julie Diphofa, NACSA’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. Since assuming his role, Mr. Nyanhi has initiated several positive changes within NACZ, including a revamped website and exciting updates to the National Merit Awards. He emphasized that the MoU will create valuable cross-border opportunities, not only strengthening relations between South African and Zimbabwean artists but also facilitating the exchange of ideas, expertise, and resources.
This institutional collaboration comes at a time when artists from both countries have been engaging in programs with limited state support. Many Zimbabwean contemporary visual artists, through personal effort and often under challenging circumstances, have exhibited their work in South Africa’s major art hubs of Johannesburg and Cape Town. In 2024 alone, two prominent Zimbabwean artists, Gresham Tapiwa Nyahude and Xanthe Somers, received recognition for their outstanding work from South African corporations like First National Bank and Latitudes. The presence of Zimbabwean artists in South Africa’s visual arts, heritage, music, and film sectors has been significant, highlighting the deep cultural ties between the two countries.
Zimbabwean contemporary artists who spoke to artweb welcomed the MoU, expressing hopes that it will lead to greater governmental support for the arts in Zimbabwe and South Africa. They highlighted the importance of grants and other forms of support to alleviate the challenges faced by artists working in Zimbabwe, noting that lessons could be learned from South Africa’s approach to public-private collaboration in the arts. They emphasized that the exchange should not only focus on artistic talent but also on strategies to build and sustain a vibrant arts industry.
The partnership between NACSA and NACZ covers several areas of mutual interest, including cultural and creative exchange programs, heritage preservation, arts education partnerships, and research and development. A key focus of the MoU is the facilitation of artist exchange programs, which will encourage collaboration and artistic growth across borders. Additionally, both councils will share academic and research information, exchange expert opinions, and make archives from both nations’ art sectors accessible to each other.
Ms. Diphofa stressed the importance of sharing knowledge and learning from each other’s experiences. She noted that the collaboration would strengthen NACSA’s policy framework while supporting NACZ in refining its funding model. Mr. Nyanhi echoed this sentiment, adding that the MoU would enhance relations between artists in both countries and create opportunities for professional growth.
This collaboration aligns with NACSA’s strategic objective of fostering international market access for South African artists, while also enabling NACZ to enrich Zimbabwe’s arts landscape through international partnerships. Both organisations are committed to working together to support the development and sustainability of the arts and culture sector in their respective countries.
The MoU signifies a new era of cooperation between South Africa and Zimbabwe arts sectors, offering an exciting platform for artists, researchers, and institutions to engage in meaningful cultural exchange and development.
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