National Gallery gets US$500 000

Herald Reporter

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe was recently awarded a US$500 000 grant by the Mellon Foundation through its visionary leadership strategy, to support its infrastructure.

The grant it set to finance refurbishment the gallery’s amenities, encompassing the installation of a brand new air conditioning and climate control, fire suppression , access control and security systems.

Founded in 1969, the Mellon Foundation believes that the arts and humanities are where people express their complex humanity, and that everyone deserves the beauty, transcendence, and freedom that can be found there.

The grants seek to build just communities enriched by meaning and empowered by critical thinking, where ideas and imagination can thrive.

In a statement yesterday, National Gallery of Zimbabwe executive director Mr Raphael Chikukwa, said the grant is a tool for the gallery to stand at par with other international institutions.

He said the grant had come as a “lifesaving mechanism” after years of seeking partnerships that could encourage the rehabilitation of the museum’s amenities.

Mr Chikukwa added that the national gallery was grateful to the Mellon Foundation for the generous contribution towards infrastructural support for the museum.

The funds are expected to take the National Gallery towards world-class status, and as a national treasure, contribute to the proper management and preservation of the permanent collection for the foreseeable future.