VISUAL ART in Rwanda, especially in Musanze district, continues to show positive signs of growth and a boost in the art and creative sector this year. Musanze Arts Studio Hub Adventure is another art space that opened in 2018 but started its operations officially this year in January.

 27-year-old Bienvenue Mashakiro is the brains behind the hub, an art gallery, and studio that provides space for 12 visual artists doing different styles of art including painting, sculptures, ceramics, and others.

According to him, the art space's specialty is that it provides both a studio for art lovers and Ecole d'art de Nyundo's fresh graduates, where they provide tools and space to grow their talents and make art pieces that are later are later exhibited in their gallery.

Children at Musanze Arts Studio Hub Adventure while painting.

"Many visual artists face this challenge of not knowing where they can find best quality materials to craft their artworks. Most of them don't have a studio either. The only galleries we have so far in Rwanda receive only finished pieces but sometimes a person might be talented but don't have a studio in which they can craft their works,'' he shared.

"I founded this space because I wanted to help those new artists in the game. Another thing is that I wanted to keep the original artworks and that’s why our gallery exhibits artworks that were made inside our studio,’’ he added.

Mashakiro revealed that in collaboration with other artists at Musanze arts studio hub adventure, they also organise art events and do mural paintings. So far, they have done mural paintings at African Leadership University, Kepler University, and Kigali arena among others.

He added that since the establishment of the hub, there has been a boost in the arts sector, especially in Musanze district. The hub also trains children who have a passion for arts and to develop their talents.

How it started

Growing up as an orphan, Mashakiro says it made him find refuge in arts. He says art has been like therapy to him. After graduating from Ecole d'art de Nyundo in 2014, Mashakiro says it took him a hard turn to find a place to craft his artworks and that art tools were too costly.

"I didn't know where to find the best quality paints and other materials. This made me think of other artists who face the same challenges like mine. I was also looking for ways that people in my neighborhood would be more interested in arts. That’s how the  idea came about,'' he shared.

Bienvenue Mashakiro founder and director of Musanze Art Studio Hub Adventure.

Mashakiro says he started working on his idea in 2018, and it was his long-time cherished dream to open an art space especially in his district of residence.

Starting out, he says the hub was not yet officially opened and it has not yet gained official documents that allow its operation but he was still in the process until the pandemic took over but it didn't discourage him. He launched the studio hub officially this year with the main aim to promote arts that express emotions and sentiments to society.

"Through art, I can express myself, my emotions as well my sentiments. Despite that, I realised that many adults and kids need art therapy and they hardly get it. This gallery comes as a solution to them. I hope it will heal a big number of people in Musanze and many others,'' he notes.

Impact on society

Since the inception of Musanze Arts Studio Hub Adventure, Mashakiro has been carrying out community outreach to educate the community on art and craft, especially to the young generation.

They host student sessions in the creative part, train them and make beautiful art pieces that are sold to support them by giving them essential materials for their lives.

The visual artist says they are dedicated to telling the untold stories of vulnerable Rwandans through art, training children in drawing, providing them with scholastic materials, offering painting classes, as well as hosting school tour visits.

They also promote talent, facilitate and lead student creative tours.

"We also collect and sell crafts from local communities generating income and offer employment to some members of the community,” added Mashakiro.

To carry out all these activities, Mashakiro says they use their savings from their artwork and other side gigs.

However, Mashakiro revealed that their biggest challenge was to start up amid the pandemic which they hope will get better when the pandemic eases.