Mbulelo Mpofu mbulelo.smpofu@gmail.com
ON the sidelines of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), the US Embassy in Harare has officially handed over a high-end research computer to the National Gallery of Zimbabwe (NGZ) in Bulawayo.
The donation, unveiled on Wednesday at the Beit Reference Library, marks a significant boost for local visual artists and students seeking global design resources.
The handover coincided with the opening of the “Founders Museum Exhibition,” a portraits and video presentation of the Signers of the American Declaration of Independence.
Ambassador Pamela Tremont presided over the event as part of the celebrations for 250 years of American independence, highlighting the shared colonial histories of both the U.S. and Zimbabwe.
“So, we’re super pleased to be able to offer this new digital resource to the gallery and to the artists who will use it for all of their research and digital access that we hope will really enhance their work and their ideas and their innovations. So, we’re very happy to be here for that. American Innovation really does open the world to the rest of the world age. So, we hope that many people will have it. It really showcases how American Innovation will establish and commence the exchange of ideas, research, and serve as a springboard for collaboration. The web-based educational resources available to artists and researchers to the latest journals, digital books, and research guides. The tools provide access to credible, vetted sources, helping users quickly find high-quality information. So I’m very happy to be here. I think this is a useful tool for you and the gallery. And I look forward to seeing the things that you can do,” she said.
For the resident artists and students from the Bulawayo Polytechnic Applied Art Department, the new research station is a game-changer. It provides immediate access to digital tools that were previously out of reach, ensuring that creative ideas are no longer stalled by a lack of resources.
Justice Maphios Cheda (Rtd), Chairperson of the NGZ Board of Trustees, emphasised that the embassy’s support goes beyond the practical:
“What you have given us today is more than equipment. To us, it is a statement of belief in Zimbabwean artists, its belief in the power of culture, and belief that creativity deserves to be resourced. When artists know that their work is valued, it builds confidence, and confident artists produce bolder, more innovative work.”
Ambassador Tremont noted that the gallery remains one of her favourite stops in the city, providing a unique space to interact with, “creative minds.”
The event concluded with a practical demonstration of the library’s new resources by Yolanda Ngwenya, proving that the gallery is ready to tell the stories of Bulawayo on its own, well-resourced terms. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
