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Angela Sibanda, Showbiz Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Art Gallery (NGZ) is set to host its inaugural national Visual Arts Awards this year.

The awards that will recognise the amazing work of artists who specialise in painting, photography, architecture, ceramics, design, graphics, digital art and drawing among other areas will be held in July. The gallery invited all Zimbabwean artists who are 18 years old and above to enter their works.

“The Zimbabwe Visual Art Awards will present an expert-based, professionally juried and industrially measurable commendation to practicing artists in Zimbabwe. The awards will centre on encouragement and empowerment of best practices as it will aim to infuse business practices and quasi-commercial aptitude to recipients to urge artists to thrive towards formality in practice,” read a statement issued by the gallery.

Zimbabwe National Art Gallery

NGZ Bulawayo regional director Silenkosi Moyo said: “These are going to be our first awards of this nature and we’re calling all artists around the country to come through with their artwork. We are looking forward to making these a success.”

Over the years, the gallery has been offering a platform for artists to design and exhibit their artwork.

Ishmael Singo

In Bulawayo, the gallery provides studios where most local artists spend their time working. It has also helped with the development of rising artists such as Ishmael Singo, whose Magoritoto exhibition awed many at the gallery.