A Vibrant Space for Arts to Thrive in Tanzania

Nafasi Art Space has made significant strides in fostering artistic skills and professional development among emerging artists.

These initiatives highlight Nafasi Art Space's commitment to nurturing talent and supporting the artistic community. Thank you for your continued support, which significantly impacts the lives of these artists.

Key highlights include:

• Residency Programs: Numerous artists have participated in the Visual Arts Department's residency program, enhancing their skills across various disciplines.
• Nafasi Film Club: Active since January, it has provided a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and engage with the community through short film screenings.
• Nafasi Academy: Students have completed their second module, focusing on sculpture, pottery, and papier-mâché, culminating in a second exhibition showcasing their growth.
• Social Media Engagement: Platforms are used to share valuable opportunities and resources with artists, aiding their career advancement.
• Feel Free" Program: Received an overwhelming response with 101 applicants.
• 3-D Masterclass: This standalone component has advanced to its intermediate level, offering in-depth training for participants.
• Lete Stori" on YouTube: An online platform to engage with artists, increasing opportunities for interaction and exposure.
• Tukutane Nafasi Open Mic Event: Hosted over 10 artists, fostering a vibrant and supportive community.
• Members Outreach Program: Strengthened connections and support among artistic members.

Summary of Nafasi Art Space Activities and Initiatives

1. Artistic Skills Development

Nafasi Art Space emphasizes individual growth through capacity building and artistic skill development. This involves mentorships by industry veterans, fostering a supportive community. Key initiatives include:

Nafasi Academy starts the year by welcoming 14 emerging visual artists for intensive training in various disciplines, including painting and photography, with visits to cultural sites for inspiration. After a thorough screening of 51 applications that were reviewed by the visual arts department, 17 applicants were chosen based on their commitment to the Arts and artistic skills, and 14 candidates reported and commenced their studies. They have been able to cover two modules successfully, at the end of each module an exhibition was held the first one wasThe Inner Mirror, which was held in early April, and the second exhibition was "Traverse"  They have gone on a short break before they commence their third module. 

The Nafasi Film Club is excited to accommodate new members who received training in filmmaking and screenwriting basics, starting a self-exploration process. They have successfully screened 12 short films by the end of April at MUVI KALI.

"Feel Free" Program: We are excited to have successfully finished the2023 Feel Free Grants project and we are happy to share their stories, we have again launched the Feel Free Grants program for 2024 we received an overwhelming response with 101 applicants, 16 projected that were shortlisted, then and finally 8 grantees have been awarded the fund, we will have a press release in June to announce the official starting of this year program

3-D Masterclass: Here is the documented video feedback from the participants of the 3D for Beginners Masterclass

This standalone component has progressed massively, we have been able to successfully host 6 Digital Artists and advanced to its intermediate level, offering in-depth training for participants.

We have hosted several residencies in both the Visual Arts and Performing Arts departments we started the year exciting enough that we have hosted more female residencies so far this year, the visual arts department has hosted 7 residencies 5 being female and 2 being male residencies, the Performing Arts department has hosted 3 residencies including a poet, musician and a fusion of traditional music and electronic music band famously known as Wamwiduka Band with their residency known as "Asili Tronic".

Capacity Building and Staff Development.

There was a workshop that took place on 9th April 2024, led by Root Creative mentors like Olivia Muia and Jackson Biko from Kenya, the emphasis was telling good stories that are memorable, powerful, and authentic. Also, our staff attended a focus group discussion on the workshop aimed at better understanding the gaps and opportunities specific to your practice sector. The Mastercard Foundation will include your insights as a valued contributor to the arts in a broader report on creative industries in your country and future programming. Furthermore, our staff attended training by Interpol to track convicted sex offenders so that the organization cannot employ sex offenders and Nafasi art Space has signed up to join this important movement.

Erasmus+ Program: Ibrahim attended an information session at the European High Commission in Tanzania, aligning with Nafasi's mission to empower young artists.Creative Hustle Program: Kwame Mchauru moderated sessions on financial success in the creative industry

2. Visibility of Tanzanian art is improved nationally, regionally, and internationally

With the increase and consistent sharing of Nafasi Art Space's day-to-day activities through website & social media platforms i.e newsletter, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook where it has become the most useful tool for communication which has resulted in to increase in awareness and visibility of the Nafasi academy & film club programs to other emerging artists,  organizations and potential stakeholders who have shown interest to join and collaborate with Nafasi Art Space in the coming programs.

Nafasi Art Space has  launched initiatives to provide emerging artists with platforms to display their work, particularly through the "Tukutane Nafasi" event series where we successfully hosted Open Mic with a big turn,  theNafasi Academy Instagram page has 1K followers, while the main page has had over 18300+ followers, 

Hangout & Open Studio Series Visiting artists from diverse regions engaged in collaborative events, sharing ideas and showcasing their works. Notable events included the "Deconfining Artist Hangouts" and performances by Tapa Tapa Dance Co. from Kenya.

Lete Stori Event where we FeaturedJagwa Music andK-Zungu in February, Hassan Mahenge and Eazymantz then the last event we went live on YouTube featured20 Percent and Baba Kash allowing them to perform and engage with the audience on their artistic journeys and community issues.

3. RESILIENCE, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Invitation of members to the 2024 Nafasi AGM

We held our Annual General Meeting ng where members from both visual arts departments members who did attend the AGM proved highly beneficial and effective. They had the opportunity to engage directly with the Nafasi board members, asking questions, offering suggestions, and gaining clarity on various Nafasi activities relevant to the members. This direct interaction facilitated a deeper understanding of the organization's initiatives and provided a valuable forum for member input and feedback. 

The main exhibition hall was leased for a Live Weaving exhibition, a collaborative project undertaken by Architectural Pioneering Consultants (APC) in conjunction with the National Museum of Tanzania and Humboldt Museum, Germany.

Facilitated art sales, such as three artworks sold to a buyer in Dubai.

Gallery Shop: The day-to-day engagement of visitors has expanded the recognition of Tanzanian art.

4. Partnerships and Networking

Nafasi Art Space actively fosters connections across the cultural and creative sectors through participation in events and programs. Notable engagements include:

STARTS4AFRICA’s official residency, the STARTS opened a call was live and extended until 25 February. After the Eligibility Check by the STARTS4FRICA Consortium, 17 applications were eligible for review by the Nafasi team, and most of the applicants were from Tanzania and Nigeria. The final selection happened on March 4, where Ala Praxis, a Nigerian artist collective was selected based on their outstanding presentation, including their innovative approach and artistic vision that stood out among the other applicants, and are bound to start their residency at Nafasi from April to October 2024.

Singeli Convention 2024 Collaborated with Uswazi Born Talent (UBT) to achieve a milestone event.

These activities and initiatives highlight Nafasi Art Space's commitment to enhancing artistic skills, providing platforms for emerging artists, improving the visibility of Tanzanian art, and fostering partnerships within the cultural and creative sectors.

In conclusion, Nafasi Art Space is poised for an exciting phase as we prepare to officially launch the Feel Free Grantee Program. The upcoming quarter will also see the implementation of the Nafasi Academy program focused on Curatorial and Art Management, alongside the soft launch of the Nafasi Art Space Digital Application. This new digital platform will empower Tanzanian artists by providing them a space to showcase and sell their works online. 

Additionally, we are enthusiastic about our new residencies, showcase opportunities, and workshops, all designed to foster artistic growth and community engagement. We are also committed to enhancing our communication strategies via Facebook and Twitter to effectively reach a broader audience and attract potential stakeholders. With these initiatives, we look forward to the remainder of the year with great anticipation and optimism for the impactful developments ahead.