Mbare Art Space: Revitalizing Zimbabwe’s Historic Beer Hall

The Birth of a New Legacy

Mbare Art Space, a vibrant arts hub in the heart of Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare, has transformed a historic beer hall into a thriving center of artistic and communal revival. This former site of segregation has been reimagined as a place of creative freedom and empowerment, turning a legacy of constraint and control into one of community regeneration.

As a testament to its storied past, Mbare Art Space is situated in a repurposed colonial-era beer garden, where Bob Marley and the Wailers once performed at Zimbabwe’s independence celebrations. The township was once the heartbeat of black urban life, with a community beer hall serving as a vital gathering point for sports, politics, and culture.

The Neglect of Civic Infrastructure

However, the once-thriving beer halls now stand as derelict reminders of neglect. These communal spaces reflect a broader neglect of civic infrastructure in post-independence Zimbabwe. Yet, out of these ruins, new life is taking shape.

• The dynamic arts hub reclaims the building’s original spirit of gathering, creativity, and public engagement.
• Operating under a long lease from the Harare City Council, this nonprofit initiative is part of a wider urban renewal and adaptive reuse project aimed at reimagining the city’s cultural infrastructure.

The Story Behind Mbare Art Space

Mbare Art Space is the brainchild of Moffat Takadiwa, a renowned artist and advocate for artist-run spaces. His vision is to create a space that supports emerging artists through mentorship and access to resources. The space has become an artists’ haven with studios, office space, an exhibition hall, and a digital hub.

“I saw the potential for not just studios and an exhibition venue, but also for dialogue and community regeneration,” Takadiwa said in an interview. “This space is not just for artists, but for the community. It’s a place where we can come together, share ideas, and create something new.”

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The Artist-in-Residence Programme

Mbare Art Space is focused on expanding its artist-in-residence programme, inviting both local and international artists to immerse themselves in the context of Mbare and Zimbabwe. This programme aims to foster collaboration, creativity, and community engagement.

Programme Details	Objectives
Duration: 3 months	To provide emerging artists with a platform to showcase their work and engage with the local community.
Eligibility: Local and international artists	Artists who have demonstrated a commitment to community engagement and social responsibility.
Application Process	Applications will be accepted through an online portal, with a selection committee reviewing applications and conducting interviews.

The Impact of Mbare Art Space

Mbare Art Space is not just a physical space, but a hub for community engagement and education. Community workshops, led by resident artists, provide a platform for local residents to engage with art and creativity. Local schools participate in art education initiatives, extending the space’s impact beyond its immediate geography.

1. The space offers a unique opportunity for community members to engage with art and creativity, promoting social cohesion and community regeneration.
2. Through collaboration and education, Mbare Art Space is fostering a new model of artistic practice that is responsive to the present and rooted in history.
3. By providing a platform for emerging artists, the space is helping to revitalize Zimbabwe’s cultural infrastructure and promote creative freedom and empowerment.

The Future of Mbare Art Space

As Mbare Art Space looks to the future, it is focused on expanding its artist-in-residence programme, inviting both local and international artists to immerse themselves in the context of Mbare and Zimbabwe. The space aims to bring together art, archives, and community engagement, creating a unique and vibrant cultural hub.

Ultimately, what Mbare Art Space offers is something intangible – a feeling, a memory, a vision of what is possible when history and imagination meet in a shared place.