The Sunday Mail
Society Correspondent
Zimpapers chief executive officer Mr Pikirayi Deketeke has urged journalists to extensively cover the arts as a way of promoting culture.
Addressing journalists taking part in an arts workshop in Harare on Thursday, Mr Deketeke challenged the media to fight for space and to concentrate on other important issues, as opposed to focusing only on popular culture.
“As arts reporters, you must, starting today, fight for more space in your newsroom. We need to see an artistic movement,” Mr Deketeke said.
The workshop, which was held at the National Arts Gallery, targeted media practitioners who specialise in art reportage, critical reviews and institutional critiques.
A former arts reporter himself, Mr Deketeke initially wanted to become an artist.
“I wanted to become an artist. I had the passion but, unfortunately, did not have the gift. I could not become an artist but at least I had the opportunity to write about artists . . .”
He notes that there is a lack of appreciation for the arts in Africa when compared to other parts of the world.
“It is a fact that locals do not fully appreciate the arts. As journalists, it is your duty to write passionately about the arts and, in the process, help promote the sector.
“Government is saying no one should be left behind in terms of human development. In this vein, artists must also take a leading role in making sure that they are not left behind,” he added.
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe curator, Ms Fadzai Muchemwa, spoke about the challenges the gallery faces in its search for fine art.
“We have an outreach programme in which we travel to every corner of the country in our hunt for fine art. We make sure we visit as many places as we can so that no artist is left behind,” she said.
