place mouse over to see more....
place mouse over to see more..
Surprise Art Centre bringing
Art to the people and people to the Art....
Background
Surprise Art Centre was initiated
by Tapfuma Gutsa, a sculptor and Nicole Gutsa-Field, a painter in 1997.
Surprise (the name of the place) is a railway siding, 20 km south of the
provincial capital Gweru.
Artists in Zimbabwe usually work in isolation in very limiting circumstances.
Particularly people outside the capital Harare lack access, experience
and knowledge of contemporary Zimbabwean art & culture.
Tapfuma Gutsa has been aware of these problems for a long time. One solution
was to create a meeting place where the artists can work, learn and exhibit
their work and at the same time the public can also appreciate and learn
about art. Since there was no Art Gallery in the Midlands Province before
the opening of this Art Centre several artists have so far benefited from
the facility.
The Centre consists of a main building to form the heart of activity encompassing
gallery space, public social area with seating and traditional kitchen/bar/braai
facilities and equipment/studio space. Further a guest cottage to provide
on-site accommodation and living facilities
for artists, as well as a large open area to act as workspace
and sculpture garden.
Aims
We involve the community on different
levels with a broad range of programmes including:
- Art Exhibitions/public
interacts with artists, promotion of artists, discussions
- Education/gallery
tours, slide shows, visits to the schools
- Entertainment/traditional
music, performance, theatre
Contact:
Surprise Art Centre, P.O.Box 238 Shurugwi, Zimbabwe
Tel/Fax: (263) - 54 - 21749
E-mail: utonga@global.co.zw
copyright surprise art centre, all rights reserved
2003