As part of this year’s dance festive event, FESPAD organized an art exhibition that started Tuesday at Amahoro stadium in Remera. Many artists are however complaining that sales have been completely low citing the Frw500 entrance fee and poor publicity as the main cause.

There are approximately 13 stands of African art pieces on sale which includes African wear, hand woven baskets (ubuseke), bags, interior decorations and African shoes. On Tuesday, only about a dozen shoppers could be seen in the stadium.

According to Yuriya Nikuze, one of the artists from Dufatanye Association in Gitarama, Muhanga, this is the very first art exhibition that has no buyers at all.

"Many people love my art work mainly because it’s unique and I never sell anything expensively. As a matter of fact in many exhibitions what I showcase is normally all sold out by the next day,” she said as she shook her head side to side.

Peruth Mukamusoni, a secretary to the Agaseke Promotion Project which is also supported by Imbuto Foundation, Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (Riepa) and Kigali City Council says that this time around the project has a lot of unique art work to showcase especially artistic earrings and casseroles.

"Our major need is publicity and once the public becomes aware of this exhibition, we will definitely get a big number of buyers,” she said.

Anita Munyaneza, a FESPAD official in charge of communication, however said that intensive advertisement started yesterday in order to solve the publicity problem and raise awareness about the exhibition.

"During the evenings we will be having different musicians perform at the stadium and this will definitely attract people who come in search of entertainment but will buy the art work that is on ,” she said.

The FESPAD art exhibition continues through the end of this week and most pieces cost between Frw1,000 and Frw12,000.

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