MUTARE - All is set for the Manicaland Show of the Arts (Manisa) annual exhibition and awards ceremony that will take place at the National Art Gallery (Nag) in Mutare at the weekend.
The two-day annual event starts on Friday evening with an exhibition that will be officially opened by a representative of the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust.
The awards ceremony, whose guest of honour will be Sports, Arts and Culture permanent secretary Thokozile Chitepo, will take place the next day.
Elizabeth Muusha, Nag regional director for Mutare, told the Daily News that organisers were currently finalising the awards’ adjudication process.
“Judges are going through over 200 art pieces that range from drawings, paintings, textiles, crafts, wood, stone, metal as well as mixed media sculptures,” she said.
“The exhibition and awards ceremony has managed to attract an impressive list of 45 senior artists and over 100 schoolchildren.”
Muusha has, however been disappointed by the lack of participation from the tertiary education sector.
“Tertiary institutions didn’t participate. They failed to attend any of our meetings and it’s a big worry for us.
“We know they are doing something yet we only have a single entry from Mutare Polytechnic. It’s not a good sign,” she said.
Also of concern to the Nag regional director for Mutare is the absence of entries from Chipinge, Buhera and Makoni districts.
“The entries came from Mutare, Nyanga and Mutasa. We want all districts to take part. I don’t know where we are missing each other,” Muusha said.
Some of the notable works being considered by the adjudication panel include poster paint works on canvas by Sakubva Form 3 student Christwish Mulunga as well as oil paintings on hardboard from Mutare Boys High School students.
Other impressive artworks are from Bonda and Hartzell High schools who entered intriguing textile pieces.