November 2008
Do we have culture policy or arts policy?
Why do we persist in using the 'arts and culture' phrase? It is enormously confusing, for these are two separate concepts. more >
September 2008
Use Arts to Promote Tourism: Malunga
The Government should look at the possibility of establishing a ministry of arts and culture without the inclusion of other sectors like sport and education. more >
Use Arts to Promote Tourism
Zimbabwe arts industry is capable of raking in foreign currency and shape the image of the country, a Jenaguru Arts Centre official has said. more >
July 2008
Art Beat – A New Fresh Arts Programme On Radio
The National Arts Council has initiated a radio programme that moves away from the usual profiling of artists and announcing arts events and focuses on arts and cultural issues affecting the industry. more >
May 2008
World Culture Day
Stephen Chifunyise provides an African perspective on the commemoration of World Culture Day 2008. more >
April 2008
Tourism backbone of Zim turnaround
Bright Madera writes on the importance of culture in developing Zimbabwe’s tourism sector. more >
February 2008
Time to Review National Cultural Policy
Looking at the issues raised at the National Cultural Indaba in 2006 and at some developments in 2007, it is clear that another review of the national cultural policy is now very necessary. more >
December 2007
Made in Zimbabwe
The theme for the 7th National Arts Merit Awards, 'Made in Zimbabwe', has potential to be much more than a theme, but a brand name for Zimbabwean arts. more >
November 2007
Southern Africa: Poor Funding Chokes Cultural Festivals
Lack of sponsorship, commitment and infrastructure in some Southern African countries contributed to the demise of the arts festival meant to create a mutual understanding among the people of the region. more >
In Zimbabwe, theater critics have the power to prosecute
A rich culture of protest theater has sprung up in Zimbabwe, but artists are under increasing pressure from President Robert Mugabe's security forces as he crushes dissent. more >
July 2007
Culture must be engaged for the good of man
Culture Week 2006, organised by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, is a week for people to think about where they come from, what they believe and how they live. more >
Zimbabwe: 'Use Culture As Economic Development Component'
Zimbabweans should work together to use arts and culture as a special component for the country's economic development, Vice President Joice Mujuru said yesterday. more >
June 2007
Musicians Get Peanuts in Royalties
Zimbabwean musicians, who depend largely on royalties from airplay, are paid $94 every time their songs are played on radio. more >
Website to Promote African Arts Created
A website to promote and strengthen African arts has been created. more >
Fund to Change Face of Zimbabwe Arts
The official launch of the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust (CFOZT) last week at the 7 Arts Theatre in Harare heralded a new era for the arts. more >
May 2007
Cultural Exchange Programmes Vital, Says Minister
Cultural exchange programmes and the teaching of languages enhance bilateral co-operation and project implementation. more >
State Committed to Funding Museums
Government is committed to the funding and development of museums at all levels, Manicaland Governor and Resident Minister Cde Tinaye Chigudu has said. more >
Minister Launches Culture Week
The arts and cultural industries are critical in nation building as they enable us to have a sense of belonging by motivating us to define ourselves as a people, uniting and rallying us towards a shared vision, a Cabinet minister has said. more >
State Too Dumb to Respect the Arts
There are hardly any governments which can claim to have "the soul" - or the heart - to appreciate good art, music, literature or drama. more >
April 2007
Arts Council Gets New Seven-Member Board
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe has a new seven-member board that will oversee the affairs of the council for the next three years. more >
Zimbabwe All Set for Disbursement of Culture Funds
Preparations for the disbursement of culture funds are at an advanced stage, an official has said. more >
Zimbabwe German Society Brings Artists Together
The Zimbabwe German Society is rapidly becoming a Festpielhaus for artists from Zimbabwe and those laden with the cultures and traditions of Germany and other countries. more >
March 2007
Artistes Urged to Plough Back Into Communities
Artists should plough back into the communities rather than being perceived as hapless and helpless people in perennial need of assistance, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe deputy director Elvas Mari has said. more >
National Cultural Policy Document Launched
Zimbabweans should venture into manufacturing of cultural products to save foreign currency being used in the importation of the commodities, Vice President Joice Mujuru has said. more >
January 2007
Cultural Democracy Vital
The Chairman of the African Union Commission Alpha Omar Konare launched the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance at the official opening of the First Pan African Cultural congress of the African Union held on November 13, 2006 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. more >
December 2006
ZIMBABWE: PIRACY SIMILAR TO STOCK THEFT
A Zimbabwean Minister has likened piracy to stock theft and called for stiffer penalties. more >
September 2006
Funding boost for Zimbabwe arts
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe has distributed funds to 33 arts organisations and associations from all around the country. more >
August 2006
Festival Head: 'Films Should Be Viewed As Tools for Social Development'
The executive director of the Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust (ZIFFT) has declared that films should be viewed as tools for social development. more >
Namibia/Zimbabwe Look to the Arts
Namibia’s deputy minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture has declared the arts to be "an industry with potential to grow and generate income”. more >
July 2006
Is National Arts Council Relevant?
Is the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe still relevant? Or still, what is the difference between the arts council and the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe or the Zimbabwe Football Association? more >
May 2006
Zimbabwe revives arts magazine
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe has announced that it will be reviving its arts magazine. more >
Zimbabwe govt tries to silence musicians
The Zimbabwe government, running scared in the face of mass anger at the economic hardships caused by its failed policies, is desperately trying to stifle any independent voices - including those of musicians and artists. more >
April 2006
Zimbabwe film industry needs boost
The continued downfall of Zimbabwe's film industry has come as a blessing in disguise for South Africa, which has managed to lure local top-notch actors, producers and directors more >
March 2006
Zimbabwe: New Era Dawns for Arts
SIDA is reviewing its funding mechanism of the arts and culture sector in Zimbabwe following the yet to be completed evaluation of the Zimbabwe Culture Fund. more >
January 2006
National training centre opens
The transformation of Masvingo State University to a national training centre for arts and culture could help uplift the arts industry. National Arts Council of Zimbabwe director Titus Chipangura commended Government, saying it had finally responded to the need to introduce programmes that complemented the talents of artistes. more >
Arts journalists unite
Arts and entertainment journalists from Zimbabwe's print and electronic media have formed an association, the Arts Journalists Association of Zimbabwe (AJAZ). The association seeks, among other things, to bring together journalists involved in arts and entertainment. more >
Musicians need formal training
While musicians can obtain playing skills from sources other than formal music colleges or schools, the demands of the industry today compel them to have accomplished managers or seek training on how to run their careers. more >
Film-Makers Petition Government
Film-makers have called upon government to implement a film policy to attract foreign investment and help to develop the sector. more >
December 2005
Zimbabwe arts to step up says former Secretary
Former Secretary for Education, Sport and Culture in Zimbabwe, Stephen Chifunyise, has stated that the multi-billion dollar arts and culture industry will remain in limbo unless there are effective arts organisations to spearhead growth in the sector. more >
August 2005
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe releases album
In what could be a first, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe has released an album. 'The Power of Peace' is a product of the Zimbabwean government and United Nations Development Programme. more >
January 2005
Involve Chiefs in Keeping Sites
The Council of Chiefs has called on the Department of National Museums and Monuments to work with traditional leaders in maintaining the country's historical sites, to preserve sacredness and cultural values. more >
December 2004
Harare Biennale to Have a Strong Curatorial Presence
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe will host the Harare Biennale 2004, a thematic exhibition with a strong curatorial presence in keeping with the importance of curators in Biennales the world over. more >
November 2004
$2bn boost for the arts
Some 148 groups and individuals - comprising established and upcoming artists - will receive nearly $600 million in grants from the Zimbabwe Culture Fund Trust. more >
August 2004
Theatre - Zimbabwe's last free speech?
In world terms, the theatrical scene in Zimbabwe is so small as to be almost insignificant - but it reflects a society that has, for all the wrong reasons, grabbed the news headlines internationally. more >
May 2004
Agency for young artists formed
An agency for Southern African young artists has been formed in a bid to facilitate formal working relationships and the exchange of ideas between and among the youngsters in the region. more >
April 2004
Musicians Cry Foul Over HIFA
As the Harare International Festival of the Arts swings into action, some Zimbabwean musicians feel robbed of the limelight. more >
Harare International Festival Of The Arts Set to Introduce Youth Zone
The Harare International Festival Of The Arts is set to introduce a place where the youths can gather and revel in the unique mood of arts. more >
Nama Awards Raise Artists' Status
The Nama Awards have raised the status and standing of Zimbabwe artists in the public eye, at home and abroad. more >
March 2004
Artists Suffer As Copyright Act Gathers Dust
Four years ago Zimbabwean lawmakers drafted what they thought was a noble legislation that would protect artists' rights on their works and curb the rampant piracy that has been a cancer to local art. more >
February 2004
Support Arts Sector: Undenge
Zimbabwe trade and economic consultant Dr Samuel Undenge has called upon Zimbabweans to support and promote the arts industry because it has the potential to create wealth for the country. more >
January 2004
$5 Billion Set for Distribution
The newly formed Zimbabwe Culture Fund reminded all artists willing to benefit from a $5 billion fund to be distributed must soon start preparing project proposals. more >
Musicians, Journalists Join Great Trek to UK
Zimbabwe's music and media industries have not been spared by the country's worsening economic crisis, with several journalists and musicians joining the trek to the United Kingdom in search of greener pastures. more >
September 2003
Firm donates $400 000 for arts development
As the corporate world begins to realise the importance of the development of arts in Zimbabwe, Printset Private Limited has donated close to half a million dollars towards the Arts Development Fund administered by the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe. more >
May 2003
Zimbabweans set to showcase cultural heritage
Culture Week, a celebration of cultural heritage and diversity, is set to begin on May 18 and run until May 24. more >
April 2003
NACZ disbursing scholarship funds
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has begun to disburse money from the Arts Development Fund Scholarship (ADF) to artists and arts organisations. more >
Chigwedere accused of neglecting the arts
Zimbabwean artists have accused the Minister of Education, Sport and Culture Aeneas Chigwedere, of neglecting the arts and culture industries. more >
February 2003
Critics denounce Nama nominations
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe's Merit Arts Awards (Nama) nominations have been described by critics as uncoordinated, with the whole judging process apparently lacking technical expertise. more >
January 2003
Financial institutions pump in $17 million towards arts awards
Local financial institutions have donated more than $17 million to fund the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe's 2003 merit awards. more >
Funding film industry's major handicap
Lack of adequate funding remains a major obstacle to the development of the film industry in Zimbabwe. The industry is likely to collapse if the Government and other stakeholders fail to come up with solutions. more >
New policy sees fresh crop of musicians
Floodgates were opened for many musicians last year after the Government announced a new policy designed to promote works of up and coming local artists. more >
Advent of new broadcasting law hailed
The advent of the new broadcasting law which gives 75 percent allocation of airtime to local content was hailed by many as a way of promoting local talent in Zimbabwe's music industry. more >
December 2002
Laying the basis for cultural impoverishment
According to UNESCO, in the 18 years to 1998, annual world trade-related to 'cultural industries' quadrupled from US$95 to US$388 billion. In light of the importance of cultural industries on economic strength, Zimbabwe must move to excel in its cultural work so as not to lose its cultural heritage and resources to those who simply know better how to use them. more >
Artist donates $136 000 to children's home
Victor Mavedzenge, a visual artist and poet, yesterday donated US$136 000 to the Just Children's Home in Harare to meet the children's upkeep. Mavedzenge last month held an exhibition entitled 'Quantum Soup for Oliver' at the Book Cafe. He sought to donate the proceeds to charity. more >
November 2002
Music, Dance Institution Opens in Harare
The Academy of Music and Dance, an institution moulded along the same lines as the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) in promoting cross-pollination of cultural ideas, will be opened tomorrow in Harare. more >
Dance is Reservoir of Zimbabwe's Culture
Dance is not only about people moving rhythmically to music, it is a performing art that reflects our way of life, the mood of our times and the dynamism of our culture, says the Minister of Education, Sport and Culture, Cde Aenias Chigwedere. more >
Artistes Against AIDS to hold show
Artistes Against Aids, an organisation working with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to disseminate information on HIV/Aids through theatre and dance, will hold its annual show at the Harare Gardens in mid November. more >
October 2002
Musicians Tackle Hunger
Zimbabwean music maestro Oliver Mtukudzi has joined forces with fellow artists and journalists to obtain food for his starving countrymen. The Music for Food Collective will target the country's districts hit hardest by the food crisis in Matabeleland. more >
Bulawayo Book Fair a success despite odds
The just ended Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) Bulawayo 2002, defied the prevailing environment - farm invasion, violence and the current political instability- to register a resounding success. more >
Zimbabwe Arts Council increases Nama Prize
THE National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) director, Titus Chipangura, has recently announced that the prize money for artistes who are to participate in the second National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) has been increased from $20 000 to $100 000. more >
August 2002
Harare radio station bombed
An independent radio station in Harare has been targeted in a bomb attack. Faith Ndebele, head of the station, refused to speculate on who carried out the bombing, but said it was an attack on free speech. more >
October 2001
Arts council seeks $900 000 to launch merit awards
THE National Arts Council of Zimbabwe is seeking sponsorship for the launch of what will be known as the National Arts Merit Awards. more >
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