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Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa (centre) views an artwork with NGZ director Doreen Sibanda (right) at last year’s Zimbabwe Annual Exhibition

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is a gallery dedicated to the presentation and conservation of Zimbabwe and visual heritage. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe was established in 1957, and has been central to the rise of Zimbabwean artists in the world art market through Annual Exhibitions and it managed to create a permanent collection for Zimbabwe art industry.

The National Annual exhibition was established in 1958 and it contributed obliquely to the formation of the Zimbabwean culture in the 1960s. It survived until 1973 growing in stature and number of participants in the exhibition increased year by year. The Permanent Collection is a memorial documentation of the growth advancement of Zimbabwean art. Annual Exhibitions that came with the establishment of the Gallery established a flowing stream of art in Zimbabwe. The sparkling talents of the artists were already very evident. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe has, since 1986, promoted local artists by hosting an Annual Exhibition of contemporary visual art called “Zimbabwe Heritage”.

Patronage from Zimbabwean companies and organizations such as the Baringa Corporation and the Nedlaw Investment and Trust Corporation, Anglo-American, Matthewman Banks Advertising, Lever Brothers, Walo Foods, BOC Zimbabwe, Longman Zimbabwe, Astra Group, The British Council, Zimbabwe Chemical Company and Mobil Oil, initially supported the expense of having an international panel of judges come to Zimbabwe to assess the works and select Awards Winners. Later, the sponsorship of the event grew to include different type of companies up until today. With the founding of Zimbabwe Heritage in 1986, art in Zimbabwe became significant. The Zimbabwe Heritage functioned annually for a decade until 1996 when it became a biennial and ran three cycles officially ending in 2002 because of some economic constraints.

However, with time, the National Annual Exhibition has managed to cross over the bridge of the economic challenges and continued with exhibitions. It has managed to produce so many outstanding and renowned artists, it would be impossible to list them all. They include stone sculptors, wood carvers, ceramicists and painters. All this was done through the Zimbabwe Annual Exhibition initiative. Many an artist depicted recognisable work which have enhanced the visual literacy.

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is excited to showcase as much of this art as possible, not only for the artists to benefit but so the rest of the world to see the remarkable talent staged at the Annual Exhibition. Many artist have been developed and evolved with time through the Annual Exhibition as they are given the platform to showcase their work. Some of the work that is highly commendable is chosen for housing in the Gallery’s Permanent Collection. The collection shows the nature of what art is and how it views our traditions in Africa hence bringing delight and inspiration to a great number of people, therefore marking the importance of the different exhibitions that run at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.

Collections at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe accomplishments through the Annual Exhibition represent momentous developments in Zimbabwean art. The works in the collection contribute to the history of Zimbabwe Annual Exhibition as it is a means of recording consolidated progression in the art sector. The collection process from Annual Exhibitions is consequently based on eminence, connotations of the artist and their contribution to the development of Zimbabwean art.

The preceding exhibition for 2014 was splendid and overwhelming, initiating this exhibition at the National Gallery has proved that it is capable of increasing world-class show because of considerable efforts which were made to showcase what must represent quality art works from established and future artists. The Annual Exhibition managed to draw closer new sponsors such as the Angolan Embassy. Two men were selected to commemorate the life of the late Angolan president, Agostinho Neto, who was that nations founding father. Tawanda Takura and Julius Mashambadope who were first and second prize-winners at last year’s Zimbabwe Annual Exhibition will showcase new art work this September as a result of the Annual Exhibition’s drive to promote artistic talent.

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe has a guiding principle to encourage artistic talent in all forms of visual art and the Annual Exhibition makes inroads in support women artists in the country as a means to preserve the diverse material culture. In previous editions of the exhibition, Presidential commendations have been received by female artists for their contribution to the development of art in Zimbabwe. The 32nd Edition of the Zimbabwe Annual Exhibition is running under the theme Mharidzo and artists are invited to execute works that respond to this theme. The exhibition is open to artists from all over Zimbabwe and the diaspora and further details for entry are on the National Gallery of Zimbabwe website.