NGZ Bulawayo gets additional funding

THE renovations at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo are at an advanced stage with the gallery expanding the scope of refurbishments after the Australian Embassy this week availed US$13 000 on top of the initial donation of US$38 000, NewsDay Life & Style has learnt. The donation came at a time when the NGZ had appealed to the government for additional support to attend to structural and civil engineering aspects of the renovations.

The renovations began early this year after management secured funding from the Australian and Swiss embassies

NGZ Bulawayo director Butholezwe Nyathi (pictured) confirmed the latest developments.

“The gallery is expanding the scope of renovations after the Australian embassy has been kind to us by availing US$13 000 more on top of the initial US$38 000. This brings the total investment to US$51 000,” Nyathi

said.

Nyathi indicated that after the release of funds, they would change lighting systems in the Anglo-American gallery and Marshall Baron gallery and give the exterior of the gallery a new coat of paint.

“This new extra US$13 000 will allow us to change the lighting systems in the AngloAmerican and Marshall Baron galleries," he said. Nyathi said they would also attend to the roofs in the two galleries including the ceiling and fix the floor.

The renovations include the installation of a disability ramp to enhance ease of access to the building by people with disabilities.

The institution will be the first cultural institution to go green after the Embassy of Switzerland also pledged to install a solar power system.

The renovations come after late last year music legend and True Love hitmaker, Busi Ncube, staged a fundraising show to raise financial resources for the institution’s refurbishment.