The setting up of the Zimbabwe Creative & Cultural Arts Centre (ZICCA) in Harare has brought hope among art practitioners in and outside Harare, who experienced the closure of galleries due to various factors before Covid-19 struck and during its peak. The market for the arts industry had already been affected due to weak economic activities, and the absence of international tourists who are among the biggest buyers.

ZICCA operates from the former Greatermans store along Jason Moyo Avenue and is already offering space for emerging and established artists across all genres from culinary, literal, and visual to music, dance, design, and fashion.

It was established by Dr Nozipo Maraire, a neurosurgeon and author, sitting on the board of the National Arts Council (NAC). She has a strong interest in the arts and comes from an artistic family. The centre was set up to increase the art space in the city and to lure back the city’s residents who have since become disinterested in accessing the CBD. It has reportedly hosted fashion and music from SS Fabrik Party,
a youth-led art and design platform. Other exhibitions include “Framing the City”, a two-men visual arts exhibition showcasing works by Tapfuma Gutsa and Wycliffe Mundopa. The exhibition was curated by Moffat Takadiwa.

Harare’s art scene has seen the closure of galleries like Gallery Delta, whose founder-couples Derick Huggins and Helen Lieros have passed on, Sandros Gallery, and John Boyne Gallery, only to name a few. Based on this decline, the arts scene is looking ahead to experiencing more vibrant opening nights and exposure to emerging and established visual talents.

Text by Martin Chemhere

From DESTINATION ZW EDITION 6