By Lydia Gatundu-Galavu
Published August 21, 2013
The youth who won the first and the second prizes in the National Heritage Art Competition for youth (18 – 25 years) organised by the National Museums of Kenya, are set to commence their trips.
Elsardt Kigen Amulyoto, the overall winner of an all-expenses paid one-week trip to London museums and galleries, sets off for London on Friday, August 23, 2013 while Mike Kyalo, the runner up and winner of Sh100,000 worth of a trip to Kenya museums and heritage sites, sets off for Mombasa at his own convenience.
Anthony Athaide, the sponsor of both trips, has on August 20, 2013 confirmed that he has successfully arranged travel logistics for both winners. Athaide, an art collector, has donated land between Karen and Ngong Hills on which an arts and culture centre known as Karen Village is to be located. Once completed, the envisaged cultural centre will be expected to promote the diversity of cultures in Kenya through all kinds of creative manifestations; be it architecture, sculpture, fine art, cuisine, fashion, film, music, literature, dance, theatre or lifestyle.
The London trip will enable the Amulyoto to view art and learn about how contemporary art is developing in Britain, how culture and heritage has played an important part in tourism in the United Kingdom, and how that could be replicated in Kenya. The trip will also be really good for Amulyoto’s knowledge of art history as he is a design student at University of Nairobi.
The Mombasa trip, on the other hand, will allow Mike Kyalo to experience coastal cultures and historical sites that are part of Kenya’s heritage. The trip includes galleries like Diani and selected artists’ studios. The experience is expected to have a positive impact on Kyalo’s already good artistic skills.
Rose Savala, winner of the third prize, has received Sh50,000 while James Njoroge, who won an art exhibition at the museum, will have his works exhibited in the Creativity Gallery of the Nairobi National Museum in November 2013.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta, is expected to preside over the closing of Nipe Nafasi Children’s exhibition at Nairobi National Museum on August 29, 2013 (by katherine at tforge). During the visit, the museum plans to walk her through the National Heritage Art competition winning pieces that still hang on its walls.
Lydia Gatundu-Galavu is the Curator for Contemporary Art at Nairobi National Museum in Nairobi, Kenya.
