Nafasi Art Space: A Decade of Transforming Tanzania's Contemporary Art Scene
Established in 2009 by artists from Tanzania, Nafasi Art Space is a vital contemporary art hub located in Dar es Salaam. The institution occupies an industrial area measuring 150x100 meters, which includes a primary exhibition space, artist studios, an art library, and administrative offices. Over the past ten years, fifteen shipping containers have been transformed into studios and galleries. According to Director Rebecca Yeong Ae Mzengi Corey, Nafasi supports multidisciplinary experimentation, offering exhibitions, an international residency program for more than 100 artists from over 30 nations, and workshops. In 2020, the Nafasi Academy was introduced for emerging Tanzanian artists. Its funding sources include art sales, membership dues, donations, and grants, with a strong emphasis on artistic freedom and international collaborations.
Key facts
- Nafasi Art Space founded in 2009 by a group of Tanzanian artists
- Located on a 150x100 meter abandoned industrial plot in Dar es Salaam
- Main exhibition hall is a converted warehouse with six artist studios, art library, and offices
- Fifteen shipping containers transformed into studios, two galleries, and a children's space
- Director: Rebecca Yeong Ae Mzengi Corey
- International residency program hosted over 100 artists from 30+ countries (13 African)
- Nafasi Academy launched in 2020, a one-year research-based program for young Tanzanian artists
- Funding from commissions, membership fees, rent, donations, crowdfunding, and grants
- Gender balance improved since 2016 when few female artists were present
- Three-month residency 'New Shapes' explored nature, environment, labor, culture, history
- Ten-day research residency in Uluguru Mountains near Morogoro
- Collaborations with KinArt Studio (DRC), Modzi Arts (Zambia), Arquetopia Foundation (Mexico/Peru), Waza Art Center (DRC), Kuona Arts Trust (Kenya), 32 Degrees East (Uganda), Z/KU (Germany), Fabrikken (Denmark)
- Tanzanian government supports traditional arts via Bagamoyo College of Arts (TaSUBa) and Makumbusho Village Museum
- Limited government funding for contemporary art; relies on international partners
Entities
Artists
- Rebecca Yeong Ae Mzengi Corey
- George Lilanga
- Lute Mwakisopile
- Masoud Kibwana
- Rehema Chachage
- Valerie Amani
- Kresiah Mukwahzi
- Option Dzikamai
- Serge Diakota
- Taonga Kaseka
- Vitshois Mwilambwe
- Kahlil Gibran
- Niccolò Lucarelli
Institutions
- Nafasi Art Space
- Nafasi Academy
- KinArt Studio
- Modzi Arts
- Arquetopia Foundation
- Waza Art Center
- Kuona Arts Trust
- 32 Degrees East
- Z/KU
- Fabrikken
- Bagamoyo College of Arts (TaSUBa)
- Makumbusho Village Museum
- Artribune
Locations
- Dar es Salaam
- Tanzania
- Uluguru Mountains
- Morogoro
- Mexico
- South Africa
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Zambia
- Peru
- Kenya
- Uganda
- Germany
- Denmark
- Africa
- North America