THE RESIDENCY EXPERIENCE CELEBRATING ARTISTIC JOURNEYS
About Us In the heart of Mikocheni B's industrial area, you will discover Nafasi Art Space - a vibrant art space dedicated to nurturing and fostering freedom of expression for artists as they go about their creative journeys. Since its inception in 2008, Nafasi Art Space has served as a dynamic hub where artists converge to create, interact, and collaborate. It has evolved into a home of endless possibilities, providing a ground for artists and curators to fuse their creative energies with expertise and innovation. Nafasi Art Space has not only been a sanctuary for numerous local and international artists but has also emerged as a platform for the public to engage intimately with art and the artists themselves. OUR VISION Furthering and enriching human potential through the arts. OUR MISSION To create a centre of excellence that promotes the creativity and professionalism of Tanzanian artists through training, exposure, cross-cultural dialogue, and collaborative artistic endeavors. While the main vision remains, Nafasi hopes to attract more artists from different mediums/disciplines to be able to engage with the Nafasi community at a greater level. OUR OBJECTIVES Artist Development: Cultivating and nurturing the growth of artists. Audience Engagement: Facilitating meaningful connections between art and its viewers. Collaborative Endeavors: Fostering partnerships and joint creative initiatives. Building Sustainability and Resilience: Ensuring the enduring vitality of the arts and our community.
The Residency Experience As part of our commitment to achieving one of our key objectives, which is artist development, we have instituted an Artist in Residency Programme, often referred to as the AIR programme. This initiative was designed to create a nurturing learning environment and ignite the exploration and production of contemporary art in Tanzania, encouraging an open exchange of ideas within the local and international artistic community.
Artists participating in our residency programme join Nafasi for a duration span of 4 to 12 weeks. During this time, they engage in activities such as creating art, skill exchange, networking, and sharing their ideas and experiences. Throughout the residency, artists are furnished with a dedicated workspace, and essential resources, and often benefit from a supportive network, all of which enable them to experiment, generate new artistic works, and gain fresh insights. The AIR program typically encompasses three main activities: Artist Hangout: These gatherings serve as a platform for artists to showcase and receive feedback on their work. It's a space for the exchange of ideas and inspiration. Typically occurring within the first week of the residency, it introduces the artist to the Nafasi community, providing an opportunity to share past, current, and upcoming projects. Workshop: Artists in residence also have the chance to impart their knowledge and skills to other artists, creatives, and like-minded individuals. A final showcase: As the residency draws to a close, the artist is provided with the chance to present the art they've created throughout their stay. This presentation can take the form of an open studio exhibition or a live performance, offering a culmination of their creative journey during the residency.
Over the span of 12 years, Nafasi has welcomed more than 100 talented individuals through the AIR programme, hailing from various countries and diverse artistic backgrounds, including painters, sculptors, printmakers, dancers, performers, musicians, video artists, photographers, writers, curators, and researchers. This residency offers artists a unique opportunity to step away from their daily routines, focus on their artistic creations, collaborate and network with fellow artists and the Tanzanian artistic community, and potentially showcase their works, fostering development and broadening their creative horizons.
their
artistic
Highlights over the years 47 FEMALE ARTISTS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES PARTICIPATED IN ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAMME
98 MALE ARTISTS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WERE PART OF THE ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAMME
141 WORKSHOPS WERE CONDUCTED BY THE ARTISTS 18 PERFORMING ARTISTS SHOWCASED THEIR PERFORMANCES DURING THEIR RESIDENCIES 3 CURATORS IN RESIDENCE PROVIDED THEIR EXPERTISE TO LOCAL ARTISTS
9 DIGITAL ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE SHARED THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH THE NAFASI COMMUNITY
12 ARTIST COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL ARTISTS WERE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PROGRAM
3,000+ AUDIENCES HAVE ATTENDED OPEN STUDIO EXHIBITIONS
79 ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE WERE FROM THE EAST AFRICA REGION
4 FEMALE LOCAL ARTISTS TOOK PART IN RESIDENCIES OUTSIDE TANZANIA
Where the artists reside
List of countries Tanzania DRC Zambia Uganda Kenya Zimbabwe South Africa Australia Ghana Japan USA Germany France UK Italy Finland UK
Bolivia Brazil Chile Poland Spain Mozambique Ethiopia India Belgium Senegal Switzerland Sweden Rwanda Burundi Lebanon Netherlands
Artist Spotlight Nasma Mzee Residency Period: 3 July to 29 July 2023 A Tanzanian contemporary visual artist whose work is deeply influenced by her surroundings drawing inspiration from myriad of sources, including nature, people and anything that sparks a sense of wonder within her.
Her Thoughts: I enjoyed the hospitality and how the team opened up to my ideas and made me feel okay to explore what I desired to explore. I have discovered my voice thanks to this residency and I can’t wait to share it with many more .
Roger Mokbel Residency period: 5 - 30 June 2023 Originally a biotechnology engineer, Roger established himself as a selftaught Lebanese photographer by using his visual works as a plea for social justice. His work explores the intersection between the personal and the collective.
His Thoughts: The diversity of the profiles encountered during the residency and the amazing coordination. I have personally connected with many of the artists present there. It has lead to a potential exhibition in Dar Es Salaam amongst other future partnerships I was able to put together a text and recite it in front of a considerable audience (25 people). It was my first performance in public and definitely is a milestone in my career . Your efforts to promote arts are so precious! Thank you.
Kadallah Burrowes Residency period: 25 July to 26 August 2023 Kadallah is a trans-disciplinary artist and creative technologist using emerging technologies for social good and also a a co-creator of the ANANSI Revolutionary Collective, and a member of The Guild of Future Architects. Right now, their research is in distributed artist and activist communities, while their art is currently focused on collaborative social art practice.
Their Thoughts: I loved existing in a multi-disciplinary art space where I got to interact with and learn from artists of all different disciplines. It was great to make some life long friends, both from Tanzania who taught me about the country from a grounded perspective, as well as with artists from around the world. I enjoyed learning about what goes into actually setting up an exhibition, and it was great to teach a workshop and collaborate between Nafasi and OnaStories. The residency helped me recognize just how abstract my work has always been, even in forms of media in which "abstract" is a term that is rarely applied. It was just so special, and I can't wait to come back again.
Artist Spotlight Kashushu Karungi Residency Period: 27 August to 15 September 2023 Kashushu is a self taught contemporary visual artist originally from Kampala Uganda. Her vibrant abstract compositions are a blend of lines, patterns, geometric and inorganic shapes that she uses to reimagine the human figure, landscapes, still life and nature.
Her Thoughts: I enjoyed having resources to create my work and throughout the residency, I managed to figure out the direction to which I wanted to take my work which was amazing.
Sharon Ong’ayo “Liboi” Residency period: 5 March to 5 April 2023 Liboi is a Nairobi-based Singer/ Songwriter who uses her creative ability to express the human experience, question humanity and improve the well-being of the deprived in society. She does African Contemporary music which is a blend of traditional music with elements of popular African genres.
Her Thoughts: I got to be connected with a diverse range of artists doing different styles. This made me experience the diverse music culture in Tz which played a huge role in my project. This opportunity has shown me the incredible potential of collaborations; that when we unite our efforts, we can accomplish remarkable things. I've undergone significant personal growth, both internally and externally, during this experience. I've discovered that my organizational abilities are quite strong, as I successfully guided the project to completion. Furthermore, my communication and social skills have notably improved.
Aichieli Temu “Chi” Residency period: 8 May to 9 June 2023 Chi is a Tanzanian singer/songwriter; who began writing music at the age of 13 on the piano before moving onto the guitar, expanding her musical horizons and perfecting her signature soulful sound. Constantly evolving, nothing fulfills Chi more than the energy and intimacy of live performance. Chi treasures this and her wanderlust, stating “no matter where I tread in life, a song is bound to come out”
Her Thoughts: I enjoyed the community around Nafasi and how it was easy to find people who were keen to collaborate. I did learn more about my ability to get in the field and communicate, whether in broken swahili/swanglish or english with people - creating a deeper relatability to the music I create. I did learn that my practise can encompass more than music. New relationships were formed with some of the member artists. Will also be looking to include them in future events I have lined up for the end of the year
Our Digital Footprint REVIEWS ON TRIP ADVISOR
TOP FEATURES ON WEBSITES: www.momaa.org www.artnewsafrica.com www.magazine.artconnect.com
Residency highlights
One of Chi Temu’s performances at the end of her residency in 2023
Some of the works created by Cajsa-Lisa Linder Loden and Toomas Saarne’s residency in 2022
One of the works created by Roger Peet & Erica Thomas’ residency in 2022
Nasma Mzee’s Painting workshop that was facilitated by Nasma during her residency in 2023
A painting that was exhibited in Klaus Hartmann’s open studio exhibition in 2022
Sabelo Mcinziba, as a curator in residence, during his artist hangout in 2023
Residency highlights
Roger Mokbel’s performance at the end of his residency in 2023
A painting from Damien McDuffie’s AR open studio exhibition where he collaborated with local artists in 2023
Amon Majaliwa’s sculpture in progress for his residency in 2023
An NFT workshop that was facilitated by Kashushu Karungi during her residency in 2023
Cedric Sungo’s sculpture that was part of the Umoja residency in 2022
Kadallah Burrowes VR open studio as part of the end of residency showcase in 2023
Since its establishment, Nafasi Art Space has consistently championed artistic exploration and collaboration. Our residency program exemplifies our dedication to nurturing the creative spirit, offering a supportive refuge for artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Over the years, we have witnessed the transformative impact of this program as artists from around the globe converge in our dynamic community to exchange ideas, challenge conventions, and push the boundaries of their artistic expressions. These collaborations have transcended cultural and geographic barriers, yielding innovative and thought-provoking artworks. Nafasi Art Space represents more than just a physical location; it serves as a catalyst for inspiration, a platform for experimentation, and a bridge connecting artists with their audiences. We firmly believe in the power of art to bridge divides, provoke contemplation, and spark change. As we look to the future, our commitment remains unwavering in fostering artistic growth and collaboration. We extend an invitation to artists, whether emerging or established, to embark on this remarkable journey of creative exploration with us. Together, we will continue to expand the horizons of what is achievable, forging a brighter future where art knows no bounds, and collaboration knows no limits. We extend our gratitude for being part of the Nafasi Art Space community and eagerly anticipate the numerous artistic adventures that lie ahead.
Credits Photo credits: Ibrahim Mkude (Marketing Manager), Hizzer Haizer (Digital Arts Coordinator), Rajab Lawaliya Habib (Performing Arts Coordinator), Sandra Mpelumbe (Gallery Coordinator) & Kwame Mchauru (Performing Arts Manager) Report
authored
by:
Germaine
Sigonda
(Visual
Arts
Coordinator) Layout & design by: Lilian Hipolyte (Director), Firdaus Mbogho (Visual Arts Manager) & Germaine Sigonda
Contact us P.O. Box 31715 Eyasi Road, Light Industrial Area Mikocheni B,
NAFASI
Dar es Salaam TANZANIA +255 (0) 757 820 426 info@nafasiartspace.org www.nafasiartspace.org
ART SPACE