National Gallery of Zim: ‘Museum and memory’

It enjoys the space and facility to present works of art to their best advantage in a gallery environment, yet it also holds more than 6?000 pieces in its Permanent Collection of art in trust. Thus, we use both the term interchangeably and expose our staff to all the relevant roles and responsibilities found in both.
As a museum of contemporary art, the NGZ aims to secure the memories we hold and the stories we tell as contemporary.
Yesterday, the NGZ joined other museums worldwide in celebrating, recognising and uplifting the role of museums during the International Museum Day. The theme for this year is Museum and Memory and it focuses in particular on Africa, a continent whose cultural contribution to the world is often unknown and deserves to be promoted.
Museums hold memories and tell stories. They have in their collections numerous objects that are basic to the memory of the communities we live in. These objects are the expression of our natural and cultural heritage. Many of them are fragile, some endangered and they need special care and conservation.
International Museum Day this year was an opportunity for visitors to discover and rediscover their individual and collective memory.
The NGZ, which showcased under the sub-theme, Your Museum History, recognises museums as an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, co-operation and peace among people.
Various activities were lined up at the gallery, where members of staff engaged in one-on-one discussions about their work experience and how their contribution to the institution has created memories over the years.
A memory book was provided for visitors to write any memories of their experiences at the gallery and schoolchildren were also given the opportunity to sign up for the NGZ Association and Friends of the NGZ membership.
An exhibition of portrait pictures of current gallery staff was put up in the foyer together with the launch of the Culture Box in the North Gallery. Various performances were lined up for entertainment, including the musical group, The Rock Stars, who performed urban grooves, mbira and marimba.
The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe hosted their celebrations in Gweru where schools from five regions were part of the crowd that converged to participate in different activities.
The NGZ executive director, Doreen Sibanda, noted that “the celebration of the International Museum Day falls within the Culture Week”.
“We believe that the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe should be congratulated for arranging a full week of focus on culture. The museums are striving to extend their activities in order to lend support to the National Culture Week.”
– Rutendo Mutadzapasi is the NGZ information officer.