Zomba gets art gallery

Zomba has joined other cities in the country with dedicated visual arts spaces following the opening of Tee Mlinga Art Gallery, a new creative hub set to provide artists with a professional platform to exhibit their work.

This comes at a time visual artists in the country continue to lament the lack of spaces for exhibiting their work, despite growing interest in the sector.

In an interview, visual artist Tapiwa Mlinga, popularly known as Tee Mlinga, said she hatched the idea after noticing that other artists were struggling to access exhibition spaces.

Tee Mlinga: We plan to offer exhibition space. | Courtesy of Tee Mlinga

She said: “As an artist and creative entrepreneur, I noticed that many talented artists in Malawi struggle to find professional platforms to exhibit their work and connect with audiences.

“The gallery was born from a vision to bridge that gap while also creating a cultural space that welcomes both art lovers and those who may be experiencing art for the first time.”

While typical galleries operate as exhibition spaces only, Tee Mlinga said her place will function more than just an exhibition space as it will be used to host exhibitions, workshops, talks, live performances, film screening and community events.

“By combining visual art with other creative experiences, we aim to build a sustainable and vibrant cultural destination that supports artists while engaging the wider public,” she said.

The artists also said the gallery will focus on helping artists gain visibility and access markets beyond their immediate networks.

She said: “We plan to offer exhibition spaces for both emerging and established artists, create networking opportunities and connect artists with potential collectors and buyers. We also want to use digital platforms to showcase Malawian art beyond our borders.”

The opening comes amid concerns from arts stakeholders that Malawi’s visual arts sector remains underdeveloped despite growing interest from emerging artists.

Visual Arts Association of Malawi (VAAM) president Evelyn Chisambiro and Kaliso Art Gallery owner said the sector has the potential but lacks sufficient structured spaces.

“The visual art sector is still not developed in Malawi, which means there are opportunities for artists and potential for growth. It is crucial to have spaces that promote art and allow people to see what the sector offers,” she said.

Chisambiro said physical galleries remain important in helping audiences experience and appreciate visual art, describing the new gallery a positive addition to the sector.

“It is one thing to know about visual art and another to actually see and experience art itself. We need stable spaces where people can go and see the art,” she said.

Chisambiro added that the rise of emerging artists should push more investment into proper platforms.

“We can no longer just keep the work at home or in informal markets. We need spaces where people can access the work,” she said.

Chisambiro further called for collaboration between stakeholders, including government and the private sector, saying galleries could also be linked to tourism.

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