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their thoughts, imagination or fantasies, impressions and emotions, involving such age old and sought after desire of man to find freedom, either spiritually or in reality is invaluable.
Indeed, the significance of freedom was paraded to the populace in the theme “Freedom Revisited” which was wide open for interpretation and has yielded comments and contents on the social, economic, political situation and other circumstances prevailing in the country.

Sponsored by the European Union and supported by the African Arts Trust, the art competition produced high-end artworks which saw the awarding of prizes in all media categories proving a tough nut to crack for the adjudicators of the tightly contested platform.
There were no outright winners, but prizes had to be given according to Derek Huggins in his opening remarks. He sat on the panel of the jury at his co-founded Gallery Delta Foundation for Art and the

Humanities where everything unfolded right to the day of the momentous occasion.
Art competitions and exhibitions when sponsorship is forthcoming continue to be popular and well subscribed by artists. In this instance the contest attracted 157 submissions by 87 practitioners from as far afield as Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Harare and its surrounding areas. 82 artworks by 52 artists were selected for the show with paintings in the majority, followed by sculptures and three-dimensional multimedia objects, but with very few drawings and graphics.

September 13, 2011 had both the inside and the outside of the Gallery overspilling as artists scrambled for air at twilight to hear their fate towards the recognition of their creativity that had certificates and hard cash as rewards for their efforts. Even the hoarse voice of His Excellency, Ambassador/Head of European Union (EU) Delegation to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell’Ariccia had to be amplified as he gave his officiating speech to open the exhibition as well as handing over of the awards.

He said the EU sponsoring of the art event is testimony to the significance the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe attaches to cultural expression of the people of the country. It also reflected the EU’s belief that the language of culture can contribute to articulating the feelings and experiences of the people in their quest for a peaceful and just society.

The first prize in the painting category was shared between Lance Maduwah Ramiro for his sweat on “Suspense” and Keith Zenda for his effort on “Released – Free at Last”. Calvin Chimutuwah was recognised with the second prize for his “Redemption” whilst James Mupakwa got the third for “Talking Drum” and the forth went to Misheck Masamvu for “Missing Window”.

For the ever popular multimedia three-dimensional works, Sharon Parry scooped the first with “Sheilah” as veteran Mattheus Nyaungwa ran away with the second for his “Discussing and Agreeing on Freedom in the New Constitution” and Obert Magutshwa Nyoni went away with the third for “The Agony of Silenced Voices”.

The graphics department had Munyaradzi Kapfumvuti being rewarded with the ultimate prize for his “Freedom Drink” whilst Franklyn Dzingai got the final for “On High Heels” as only two entries were rewarded due to few submissions in the category.

Once again the overwhelming power of creativity in the multimedia three-dimensional works dominated the space and could have swept all that was on offer had the awards been not categorical. Pieces like “Gava Rakadimbura Musungo” and “Who Will Bell the Cat” by National Arts Merit Award winner Victor Nyakauru, who is destined for Vermont’s artists-in-residence programme in the United

States of America this September, could have been unsurprisingly rewarded.
Albert Wachi’s “Secretary” and Gina Maxim’s “Constrain” too could have been on the podium. However, the ultimate winner was art and artists’ sanity as art competitions and exhibition awards work

for the development of the visual arts in the country.

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