Arts and Culture Tanzania, United Republic of Project #47708

Breaking Barriers and Building Bonds

by Nafasi Art Space

Project Report | Oct 17, 2022
Progress Report From Nafasi Art Space

By Ibrahim Mkude | Marketing & Operation

Nafasi Art Space is very thankful for the generosity of its supporters and the general public. As a valued supporter of Nafasi Art Space we hope you enjoy our quarterly progress reports to the global community. We are committed to ensuring Nafasi Art space continues to promote the creativity and professionalism of Tanzanian contemporary artists through training, exposure, cross cultural dialogue, and collaborative artistic endeavours as well as maintaining Nafasi Art Space core values and beliefs as we aim to continue to build the resiliency, flexibility and creativity of arts professionals in Tanzania, aligning with Nafasi Art Space strategic plan 2021/26. We’re excited to share some of the wonderful accomplishments and success stories from the artist community as well as challenges, risks and way forward towards the next quarter;

Artistic skills and professional development
Nafasi Art Space continued to facilitate regular mentorship sessions on theoretical and practical art sessions to emerging artists through ongoing programs from the Nafasi Academy which takes the form of intensive theoretical & practical modules, exchanges whereas sessions were facilitated by Tanzanian professional artists and curators as well as exchanges from international artists in residency Morgan Craig from United States of America (USA), Orangcosong (JAPAN ) and guest speakers from South Africa, Sudan and more have had the opportunity to share their knowledge and artistic techniques to the recruited artists in the Nafasi Academy and film club program.

Moreover, Nafasi Art Space continued to host the film club sessions whereas they facilitated filmmakers’ workshop with session facilitated by filmmakers from Kenya, Greece, South Africa, and Tanzania who shared their knowledge and experience to the Nafasi Film Club workshops on producing, cinematography and directing so as to increase improvement in the quality of projects by the filmmakers. Currently the film club participants are working on the pre-production of three 12-minute short films, which will be screened at Tukutane Dar in February 2023.

Increased independent art production and presentation
Nafasi Art Space provides training, artist hangouts, and public art workshops which encourage learning and exchange between artists from different backgrounds and across disciplines through programs such as Nafasi Academy, Nafasi Film Club and other public workshops. These programmes have continued to attract strong and consistent participation of artists, resulting in the creation of innovative and creative works which carry different messages that open dialogue within the society about issues facing the community, such as mental health, economic hardship, youth leaderships, and more

These sessions provide opportunities for artists to build and professionalise their careers from exposure and experience they get from exchanging with other artists and having a platform to showcase their production and being able to explain to the audience the ideas behind their works.

Community Engagement and Access to the arts

During the reporting period, Nafasi has hosted several public workshops under the name of "Tukutane Nafasi" event series. Many of our community events were documented or live-streamed on Nafasi Art Space social media pages. Three editions of the Tukutane Nafasi event series were hosted during the reporting period as well as Nafasi’s flagship event, Wikiendi Live, where art lovers from differently background had the opportunity to experience creative works of diverse disciplinary artists through a visual art exhibition, live music performances and artisan craft market. This has resulted into:

Approximately 750 Audiences were reached throughout the Tukutane Nafasi events series whereas the wikiendi Live event received approximately 300 visitors
Increase in audience engagement through social media channels whereas Nafasi Instagram page reached out to 13,500 total followers , 202 customer profile visits on Nafasi Art Space website and 12.5k views on google business profile.
Nafasi Art Space has had the opportunity of being featured on different international articles among art spaces in Africa that promote contemporary art: Panya Routes By Kim Gurney, Time Dar es Salaam.

Renovation of creative and networking spaces
The arts ecosystem in Dar es Salaam has come to depend on Nafasi Art Space as a space, a network, and a platform for artists to create, exchange, and reach the public thus urges for design the space to serve the community needs through thinking about new ways to remodel, restructure and repurpose existing buildings. During the reporting period Nafasi Art Space renovated new networking space, designed a new digital art lab and Performing arts stage, and also opened of a shop to sell merchandise, art prints and crafts from different artisans products from Tanzania.

Challenges and Opportunities during this quarterly reporting period has been as follows:-

CHALLENGES:

Access to international platforms and markets to showcase the works of artists

While support for artists locally has improved over the last few months. many challenges have remained in discovering local as well as international markets for showcasing the works produced.

OPPORTUNITIES:

Identification of potential local audience to access the arts and open dialogues in the society

Nafasi Art Space has encouraged local audiences to support and acknowledge the works of artists produced in the project thus leading artists to put more emphasis on being creative and innovative so as to attract and exchange with potential audiences a well as creating works that touch current issues and challenges facing youth & women. For example, Nafasi Academy students addressed Mental Health during their performance art piece for Module IV of the training programme

Involvement of government stakeholders in decision making and in policy dialogues
During the reporting period Nafasi Art Space has continued to encourage the participation of governmentbodies in dialogues so that government and artists can collaborate together in decision making and promote freedom of artistic expression. Nafasi has engaged in dialogue with the National Museum of Tanzania, Tanzania Art Council (BASATA), University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and Bagamoyo College of arts (TASUBA) through organising panel discussions with the representatives from these public bodies and institutions artists and othr creative cultural stakeholders have had the opportunity to get to know on areas they can be collaborate and receive support from the government policies on developing the creative and cultural sector in Tanzania.

Stakeholders awareness and Support to invest in the Tanzania cultural & creative sector
Nafasi Art Space has continued to raise awareness about the important role of the arts in society and has attracted diverse stakeholders to invest in the development of a digital art app.

Conclusion
In the next quarter, Nafasi Art Space will seek to develop further unique and creative approaches to building a strong and sustainable arts ecosystem in Tanzania through providing platforms for young artists, and inspiring the society in Tanzania and around the world to appreciate and celebrate art as a force for social good. Nafasi Art Space is grateful to all our supporters for their generosity and commitment to the development of the art and cultural sector in Tanzania.

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Jun 17, 2022
Progress report from Nafasi Art Space

By Ibrahim Mkude | Marketing & Operations Manager

After months of design and planning, the Nafasi Art Space community is excited to share some of the new spaces that are being developed at Nafasi. The long-planned renovations include a shop to showcase art prints, crafts and art merchandise; a new destination for researchers and education programs; a digital art lab; and enhanced amenities and accessibility for visitors.

Recently during the reporting period Nafasi Art Space has been able to continue implements its Strategic plan 2021/26 which focused on the following areas in addition we continue to ask for your support in spreading and raising awareness of different programs which are being hosted here at Nafasi Art Space

Innovative and thriving art sector in Dar es Salaam

Nafasi introduced the 2016-20 Strategic Plan as the first ever organisational strategic plan. Inthe past four years, Nafasi has not only achieved its ambitious goals but in many areas exceeded them, as well as learning important lessons that have shaped the development of a new five-year strategic plan which began implementation in the 2021-22 financial year which has led to successive programs including introduction of the Nafasi film Club every thursday , 3rd cohorts of Nafasi Academy 2022 , and new multidisciplinary artists members.

Increased independent art production and presentation

During the project,Nafasi Art Space continue putting emphasis its children’s art space, developed additional studios for visual and performing artists, created new rehearsals and performance spaces, established an active music rehearsal studio, pioneered an arts management internship programme,Tanzania’s first contemporary arts academy,

Increased education and exchange between Tanzanian artists and the local, regional and international art world

By fostering a truly open space to express oneself and create art, Nafasi has protected and promoted freedom of expression and created inclusive access to cultural rights this experiences of art were created through the provision of studio spaces, artist residencies, workshop and exhibitions this resulted to Nafasi being to host several international artists in residence programs include: Klaus Hartman’s residence (Germany) Erica Merly & Roger Peet (USA) , Jeremi Libenge (DRC)

Increased visibility and awareness for contemporary art in Tanzania

With safety measures in place, Nafasi Art Space is again open to the public and bursting with creativity and collaboration whereas since the beginning of this year Nafasi has hosted approximately 08 events under a series of “Tukutane Nafasi” monthly events including two events under Lete Stori welcoming talented art as well as short film screenings from the Nafasi Film Club and a feature film screening of “The Lost Okoroshi” from Nigeria and “High Fantasy” from South Africa, thus bring an overall total of 500 audiences attending Nafasi Art Space events ranging from 50-100 audiences each events hosted at Nafasi Art Space.
There have also been improvement in the social media page engagement whereas Nafasi Art Space has been able improve its participation for example on Nafasi Art Space instagram followers have amounted to 12,900, Nafasi Art Space has been rated 4.8 and verified on google business profile, also during the reporting period engage in reaching out the community through Whatsapp calls & groups

A sustainable and independent art institution drives innovation and excellence in the Tanzanian art sector:

Nafasi has continued to support the artistic growth and professional development of successive cohorts of multidisciplinary member artists including : ASEDEVA in April, Shine Dance and Muda Africa Dance who have established successful and sustainable new art centres after having been formerly based at Nafasi as studio or organisational members. The positive results are evidenced by their ability to make a living as full time artists, recognition from national and international art organisations, galleries, and prizes, and their ongoing commitment to telling authentic and socially relevant stories through their art.

The pandemic has changed our world and brought challenges, but it has also been an opportunity to rethink how we do things and to highlight just how essential art and culture can be to our community. For more updates concerning Nafasi Art Space programs kindly follow the linktree to visit on Nafasi Art Space Social Media platforms

Links:

https://linktr.ee/nafasiartspace

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Feb 7, 2022
Nafasi Art Space Progress report

By Ibrahim Mkude | Project leader

Nafasi Art Space and community are excited to welcome and wish everyone HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022, despite living in different times the community of arists is happy to always stay connected, support and share. the Nafasi Art Space community believe in seeing more of the world- in making new connection, shifting perspective and promote the richness in art and diversity across Tanzania regions and Diaspora

Nafasi Art Space wants to take this moment and express our heartfelt support that we have been receiving through the year and during the reporting the donations made it possible to continue making the arts and culture movement Tanzania accessible and inclusive and looking forward for your continued support whereas in this report we will share some of the success stories during the reporting period :

During the reporting period despite the presence of COVID19 we were able to continue provide art training include New-shape Residency a 3-months residency bringing together multi-disciplinary artist to critically discuss our understanding of the environment through discussion and research the participating artists sought to align and articulate the presence and role of the environment in our occupations, lifestyles, learning and history. This was deepened by an 8-day residency in the Uluguru mountains in Morogoro, Tanzania and later to present their work on an Exhibition which can now be seen on Nafasi Art Space online gallery.

On 19 January 2022 Nafasi Art Space had the opportunity to host a film screening session with Charlotte O'neal NYATITI MEDICINE, deals with several still relevant issues including early forced marriages; girls right to education, obstetric fistula, abuse, music medicine, and more. The film meant to sensitize global communities about the tragedy and possibilities of recovery from obstetric fistula, an ostracizing affliction that impacts thousands of women across Africa, the middle east and India but is little known in the west. Follow on Facebook Page for more photos

Also Nafasi Art Space received a huge digital engagement during the reporting period through hosting and updating on social media whereas Nafasi Art Space instagram page grew to 12,000 followers making it one of the leading centre in Tanzania with many followers as well on twitter followers grew to a total of 1,160 followers. Our aim is to continue engaging with online audiences to which we have been able to open another social media platform where we’ll be sharing most of the publications

After months of design and planning NAfasi Art Space community are excited to share some of the new spaces that are being developed at Nafasi. The long-planned renovations include a shop to showcase art prints, crafts and art merchandise; a new destination for researchers and education programs; and enhanced amenities and accessibility for visitors.

Nafasi Art Space hope that the current project, which also includes the addition of a Digital Art Lab, will provide much needed infrastructure and space for emerging artists to learn, collaborate, and share their works with the public. We need to raise a total of $10,000 to finish the spaces. We will greatly appreciate your support!

Kindly stay update with Nafasi Program on social media under the username of @nafasiartspace

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