The Arts Association of Zimbabwe Chairperson, Vengai Jeke, told The Zimbabwean artists were disappointed that the recent Sanganai/Hlanganani Tourism Expo had no category for Arts and Crafts awards, while the Tourism Night show had only performing artists.
“The fact is that when tourists go back to their respective countries it is our products that they take home to remind them of their trip to Zimbabwe. Yet ZTA is giving preference to performing artists and ignoring visual artists,” said Jeke.
“The initiative by the Authority of Township Tourism is a noble one but there is the need to revive cultural centres to showcase and promote visual arts,” added the AAZ chairperson.
The director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Doreen Sibanda, said they had proposed setting up an outlet for visual artists at the forthcoming United Nations World Tourism General Assembly but nothing concrete had resulted yet.
“Very little has been done so far, but we will continue to push so that you benefit from this world event,” Sibanda told visual artists in the capital recently.
Post published in: Entertainment