The United States Exchange Alumni team has collaborated with local Zimbabwean organisations to initiate a pioneer training programme aimed at boosting financial literacy and artistic skills for emerging visual artists in Bulawayo and Mbembesi, Matabeleland in Zimbabwe. This transformative initiative comes after observing that visual artists are perceived only as creatives but are marginalised when it comes to the financial literacy associated with their work. This collaboration is with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, Akwande, Paperbag Africa, National Arts Council, Ntombi Moyo Film Company, the US Embassy, The Tech Village as well as a development training programme called Nissi Global.
According to Akwande Team Lead and workshop curator Nontuthuzelo Sisale, the workshop seeks to be the bridge between financial management, creativity and artistic cultural flourishing. This is to also help salvage the common mindset that visual artists as just creatives and not people who are capable of presenting themselves as business-minded individuals. She added that this drove the programme to be the bridge of financial literacy, entrepreneurship and skills gap so that these may cease being a barrier to the success of visual artists, but instead become a springboard for creativity and artistic cultural flourishing.
The United States Exchange Alumni and the National Gallery of Zimbabwe through the programme aim to address irregular income streams, lack of formal business training and limited access to financial resources which can hinder the growth and sustainability of artists by providing practical knowledge and skills that empower artists with necessary skills to bridge these gaps. The seven-day training is scheduled to start on the 18th of November 18 and will run until the 28th of November 2024 at the National Art Gallery, Bulawayo. It aims to equip 35 talented emerging visual artists with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in the competitive art world.
