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Zimbabwe: Zim Seeks to Strengthen Cultural Ties in Venice

todayOctober 29, 2024

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VICE President Kembo Mohadi arrived here last night for the 60th Venice Biennale, during which Zimbabwe seeks to boost cultural relations with other countries.

He touched down at the Venice Marco Polo Airport shortly after 6pm (7pm in Zimbabwe) and was received by the Chargé d’Affaires at Zimbabwe’s Embassy in Italy Caroline Matipira and Chief of Staff in his office Dr Clever Chirume.

VP Mohadi was accompanied by Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Emily Jesaya and acting Permanent Secretary in his office Mr Milton Ndou.

The Venice Biennale, better known as “the Olympics of the art world”, opened on April 20 and closes on November 24.

It is arguably the biggest art biennale in the world, which celebrates art and architecture.

The biennale also explores themes of politics and contemporary cultural and social issues through performance, sculpture and installations.

It has attracted 333 artists and is running under the theme: “Foreigners everywhere.”

VP Mohadi’s visit is critical in that it reaffirms the important role being played by the country’s talented artists who are displaying world-class artefacts here, which have turned the heads of world art collectors.

Some of the world art collectors have already been buying the artefacts made by Zimbabweans, while others have promised to visit the country to buy.

Visits by world art collectors are encouraged by tourism businesses, who say they have a multi-pronged benefit including generating foreign currency, creating more employment in the arts sector and promoting local tourist attraction centres.

Once the collectors come and are impressed by local tourism, the world art collectors become important influencers, who then help in marketing Zimbabwe to other potential tourists and art collectors.

Chargé d’Affaires Matipira said the 60th Venice Biennale is useful as it helps to raise awareness among youths, some who may be presently unemployed, but talented and others who are already trying to find their path in the arts sector.

Such youths, she said, should make use of the National Art Gallery, which is always ready to link them with the international community of artists so they can become experts in their chosen fields.

On its part, the Government has invested to support artists so they realise incomes and help entrench cultural diplomacy being spearheaded by the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa.