Art galleries and exhibitions have in the last few years experienced a boost in Rwanda. This can be credited to the increase of players and creativity in this industry.

By definition, an art gallery is a room or a building in which visual art is displayed. Among the reasons art may be displayed are aesthetic enjoyment, cultural enrichment, or for marketing purposes.

Art galleries like Envision, Kurema, Ipfundo and choose Kigali are one of the top leading galleries in the country while others are joining the sector day by day.

The founder and owner of Envision Media Arts Collective Peter Lee, explains more about the boost of these galleries in the country.

"The rise in art galleries and art exhibitions in Rwanda is largely in response to the growing number of artistic talents that continue to emerge each year. Also, the rise in exhibitions and gallery spaces, and institutions that promote the arts continues to serve as motivation for up and coming artists. Schools such as the Ecole d'Arts de Nyundo continue to produce dozens of hungry and talented graduates looking to start their careers in this field” he said.

"When I started Envision in 2018,” he continued, "I didn't originally plan to start an art gallery.  We were focusing mainly on multimedia production such as photography and videography.  However, when building the space I saw how it could also serve as a workspace for other creatives including visual artists and furthermore could be designed as a gallery and exhibition space.  So the addition of the gallery and art studio was something that was added naturally after conversing with many visual artists who had challenges of finding space to work and exhibit their art.”

"Many of the artists here have learned that they need to expand their skill-set beyond just painting, drawing, to other creative services such as graphic design, digital illustration, live painting, and murals so they can increase their market value instead of just relying on the public to purchase their artwork” he told The New Times.

Lee further explained how the art industry is fairing in a pandemic that has hindered progress of many businesses in the country and further gave tips on what could be done to sustain the growth of the art sector in the future.

"Obviously the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on this industry because the tourist market (which is the vast majority of people who purchase original artwork in Rwanda) has been nearly gone for the past year and a half.  Also with the ongoing restrictions it’s been very difficult to host events and exhibitions that would allow the public to engage with the artists and artwork.  

"Artists have had to think outside the box, which includes hosting virtual exhibitions, marketing themselves through social media in addition to expanding their skillset to survive during these challenging times,” he said. 

For Judith Kaine, the founder and director of KomezArt, a new online gallery space representing different artistes, the rise of art galleries is attributed to fast-rising talents in Rwanda.

"I have been working in the art industry for eight years in Rwanda under my organization named "Kurema Kureba Kwiga” and over these last eight years I’ve seen increase of number in galleries as well as an increase in number of people that identify as living artist," she said.

"I think the part of that increase is attributed to the growth of the middle class and growing demand for luxury products in Rwanda, which means that more people can make a living in the art industry. I also think that there are a number of initiatives such as the one supported by Imbuto Foundation and others like Komeza, my website where there is more investment in the concept of art management so it’s not the artists who are managing the business, but it’s actual managing stakeholders who are supporting the operation of the business so that the artist can focus on making artwork.”

"Although there is still a long way to go, the quality of artwork in Rwanda is improving, access to materials is improving, and support within the sector between artists is growing. There is more collaboration in the creative industry: we see painters and visual artists working with musicians, fashion designers, and performing artists,” she added.

When asked about the large number of people who buy art works, she mentioned foreigners who live in Rwanda as tourists and Rwandans who had returned in the country from different areas of the world.

"We have a mix of international and Rwandan customers, including many expats that live and work in Rwanda as well as Rwandans that have returned from living abroad. Often they have greater purchasing power and can afford to buy luxury products. At the same time, we want a broad audience to access art, so we offer very affordable print-reproductions of artwork starting from Rwf25,000 for those who may not be able to purchase more expensive original works of art," said Kaine.

According to Patrick Nizeyimana the founder of NP Arts Center, located in Kacyiru Kigali, the reason behind the boost of the art scene is brought about by the continuous support of the government and other opportunities in this sector.

"The art scene in Rwanda is growing every day because artists are getting support from government and different opportunities like accessing art materials and showcasing them on different platforms. Rwandans are also trying to understand the origins of art which is making a huge impact on the growth of this sector” he said.

On the other hand, Serge Maniraguha a member of Ipfundo art limited believes that the boost in this industry is a result of the growth of social media, together with development of the country.

"Rwanda development board (RDB) has played a big role in the development of the country which is also one of the main reasons behind the boost in our sector. Rwandans are also learning to give value and buy artworks which was different in the past years, where people viewed art as a waste of money or something which is done by foreigners. Social media has helped artists innovate which is resulting in quality artwork and creativity hence boosting the art sector” said Maniraguha.

Artists have also benefited from the rise of art galleries and exhibitions in the country where they are able to work with different art houses in the country and make a living.

"There is a huge improvement in the art sector which is easily seen through artists and galleries. I work with different art galleries in Rwanda like Biganza art and Envision. The way we work together with these art galleries is very profitable and fair. In Biganza, I have a contract of making an artwork and set a price which they get 25 per cent of the purchase money and I stay with the rest. At Envision, I work as a member which facilitates me to get access on some equipment, l also get 80 per cent of my sold artworks which is really a good deal,” said Diane Ishimwe an artist based in Kigali.

Going forward, Envision’s Lee is hopeful that in the next few years, there will be a continued increase in the number of art-related events, exhibitions, and creative spaces that will allow the artists to share and be appreciated for their work.  

"I also hope to see an increased appreciation from businesses, government entities, and the general public by purchasing more original artwork and hiring artists to design their spaces,” he said.