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Doreen Sibanda

Lovemore Meya Arts Correspondent
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe opened its doors to the public on Thursday afternoon for an exhibition comprising 46 photographic pictures chronicling the situation “before and after” of the institution’s deteriorating rooftop after receiving funds to renovate it. Running for a month, the exhibition in A3 sized colour pictures explores the difficulties the institution went through after a heavy down pour in March 2013 forcing their staff to mop the flooded floors. It was officially opened by Royal Norweigian Embassy Councellor, Inger Tveit as a handover of the building from her embassy to the gallery after the completion of the renovation project, which gobbled half a million.

This was after the gallery committee sent out a message calling for sponsors to help them renovate the ailing building which last saw a facelift done in 2001. The renovations involved replacement of the roof waterproofing, insulation among other repairs started in October 2013 and were completed early this year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Tveit said her country was very glad to help in strengthening cultural rights.

“The cooperation between our embassy and the NGZ began in 2 000 with Norway supporting the visual Art School in Mbare. We are proud of having been part of this for so long. More funding was provided to cover institutional support that included upgrading of technical equipment and for staging exhibitions.

“It is true, the NG has a mandate to ensure that our cultural inheritance is taken good care of and looked after. The gallery’s permanent collection is a living record of the growth and development of Zimbabwean art from its earliest stages to the present day,” she said.

Speaking at the same event, the NGZ director, Doreen Sibanda thanked the embassy for stepping in to help at the opportune moment.

“We wish to express appreciation to the Royal Norweigian Embassy for the sterling work of focusing their support towards infrastructure repair as this will provide the backbone for the growth and development of the sector. The roof of the gallery received bouts of maintenance work over the years, and the last, we understand, took place in 2001. This was when the glass panels above the Courtauld Gallery were removed, cleaned and replaced while waterproofing was introduced above the North gallery,” she said.