Implementation Grant Proposal (Social Science Research Council/African Archives and Museums Project, New York City, 1993)

IMPLEMENTATION GRANT (AAMP)

STATEMENT

I. PROFILE OF THE INSTITUTION

A. MANDATE

The duty and function of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe is to conserve and promote the

visual arts and artists of Zimbabwe, and so stimulate culture to provide for a nation's

needs and invest in its future.

B. SOURCES OF SUPPORT

Ministry of Education and Culture

City of Harare

Private Sector (corporate and individual)

Membership ('Friends of the Gallery')

Exhibitions (sales)

Market (sales)

C. AGE AND SIZE

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe was inaugurated in July, 1957 ... thirty-seven years old.

The institution comprises two stories (11,340 square feet): reception area, seven exhibition

areas, penthouse/theater area, studio area, library, market area, four storage areas

(Permanent Collection), office areas and workshop area.

D. NUMBER AND CATEGORIES OF STAFF

Forty-one: Director, Exhibitions Officer, Conservation Officer, Education Officer, Head

Instructor/Art Workshop, Librarian, Technical Officer, Marketing Manager, Graphic

Artist, Departmental Assistants, Administrative Personnel (bookkeepers and secretaries),

Receptionist and Attendants.

E. AUDIENCES

Students (university and primary/secondary schools), scholars, artists, docents/patrons and

general public (indigenous/tourist).

F. SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FACILITIES

An eclectic representation of art objects/artefacts through local/regional/national/international

exhibitions (monthly).

An annual representation of the best Contemporary African art in Zimbabwe through the

'Annual Zimbabwe Heritage Exhibition'.

An annual representation of the best children's art in Zimbabwe through the 'Annual National

Schools Exhibition'.

An arts education program for youth and adults in the urban and rural areas of Zimbabwe

through 'Art Moves'.

A penthouse/theater area for arts public programming.

An arts workshop school (BAT Visual Arts Studios) for emerging Zimbabwean artists.

A branch facility in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (National Gallery at Bulawayo) to channel

exhibitions and activities, regionally.

A permanent display of Traditional African art objects/artefacts from Zimbabwe and throughout

the continent of Africa (part of the Permanent Collection).

G. TYPE, EXTENT, IMPORTANCE AND CONDITION OF THE PERMANENT

COLLECTION

The Permanent Collection comprises over 5000 art objects/artefacts: Traditional African

artefacts from Zimbabwe and throughout the continent of Africa, Contemporary

African pieces from Zimbabwe, Contemporary African/English/European artworks and

English/European 'Old Masters' artworks.

Its importance is derived from the eclectic nature of the holdings: Traditional

African/Contemporary African comparative and the English/European 'Old Masters'

enhancement. Also, the evolution of the holdings through the pre- and post-

Independence periods of Zimbabwe provides for an interesting analysis re:

cultural/political/socio-economic conditions.

The condition of the Permanent Collection is excellent due to climate-controlled storage areas.

II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

A. CONTENT

To create a computerized data-base of the Permanent Collection information.

B. ACTIVITIES

Classification/verification (physical inventory cross-referenced with existing documentation),

data-capture (utilizing Microsoft FoxPro 2.5 software and a computer system - 386DX-

40 Workstation, 8MB, 85MB, 1X Dual FDD, Harris Technology) and re-configuration of

the storage areas to conform with the computer data-base.

C. GOAL

To automate (through computerization) the Permanent Collection to respond to the day-in and

day-out management requirements and to facilitate the production of a Permanent

Collection Catalogue.

D. PRODUCTS

Computerized data-base; hard-copy reference materials (computer printouts) for Gallery

departments and visiting scholars; physical re-configuration of the storage areas to

conform with the computer data-base; and internal capability (utilizing an Aldus

Pagemaker V5.0 software program) to facilitate the production of a Permanent Collection

Catalogue.

E. RELATIONSHIP OF PROJECT TO MANDATE OF THE INSTITUTION

In order to help fulfill the National Gallery of Zimbabwe's mandate to conserve and promote the

visual arts and artists of Zimbabwe, and so stimulate culture to provide for a nation's

needs and invest in its future ... it's critical to automate the Permanent Collection to:

facilitate management control on a day-to-day basis;

provide accessibility to scholars for study;

facilitate periodic exhibitions for cultural enhancement and education;

and facilitate the production of a Permanent Collection Catalogue for cultural exchange,

worldwide.

F. REASONS FOR UNDERTAKING THE PROJECT AT THIS TIME

After thirty-seven years (1957 to the present time) of acquisitions (over 5000 art

objects/artefacts) for the Permanent Collection, the manual task of

management control has become monumental.

The National Gallery of Zimbabwe's mandate dictates the need to facilitate (through

computerization) the process of implementing the Permanent Collection for increased

accessibility as it relates to the aforementioned relationship of the project to

the mandate.

Preparations are being made to generate a comprehensive Permanent Collection Catalogue ... Its

first in the history of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. A computerized data-base will

facilitate this process and allow for in-house production through desktop

publishing.

AFRICOM, a pilot project of computerized inventories of collections in African museums, is

now in progress through ICOM (International Council of Museums), and the timing is

right and it's appropriate to incorporate the Permanent Collection's data-base with this

common data-base structure throughout Africa and worldwide for information/cultural

exchange and protection of African Heritage.

G. SCHOLARLY ENHANCEMENT AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE INSTITUTION AND

ITS RESOURCES

Scholars will be able to access the computerized data-base of the Permanent Collection through

cross-referencing of medium categories, origins and functions of artefacts, descriptive

text of art objects and biographies of artists for comparative study and analysis.

III. WORK PLAN

1994

Jan Classification, verification, data-capture and physical re-configuration of the

Feb two-dimensional art objects (paintings, engravings, etchings, textiles, etc.).

Mar

Apr Classification, verification, data-capture and physical re-configuration of

May three-dimensional art objects (sculpture, Contemporary African sculpture,

June Traditional International pieces, etc.).

July Classification, verification, data-capture and physical re-configuration of

Aug Traditional African artefacts and Contemporary African pieces.

Sept

Oct

Nov Incorporation of the computer data-base with AFRICOM's computerized

Dec inventories of collections in African museums; and setup of this combined

data-base (in-house) for access by scholars to conduct research.

The project tasks will be conducted by Christopher Chipfuya/Conservation Officer/National Gallery of

Zimbabwe and Tom R. Chambers/Art Conservator-Curator and United States Peace Corps Volunteer.

IV. PROJECT PERSONNEL

Christopher Chipfuya/Conservation Officer: Currently maintains the Permanent Collection

(acquisitions, preservation and restoration of art objects/artefacts). He has held this post since 1987.

Formerly, he was Exhibitions Assistant for the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, 1976-1986. He attended

ICCROM (International Center for Conservation and Restoration in Rome), Italy, 1987-1988.

Tom R. Chambers/Art Conservator-Curator and United States Peace Corps Volunteer: Currently assists

(as a part of a two-year tour in Zimbabwe through the United States Peace Corps) the Conservation

Officer with the Permanent Collection. He has a BS, 1969, and has held media/communications,

curatorial/archival and public programming positions at the university and city government levels over

the last twenty years. He has implemented over thirty personal, documentary/visual arts projects

(development and exhibitions).

V. PROJECT BUDGET

2 - 386 DX-40 Computer Work Station EPOCH

8 MB, 85 MB, Dual FDD Honeywell 101

Keyboard, 14" SVGA Color Monitor

@ $3250.00 each $6500.00

1 - HP 4L Laserwriter Printer $1080.00

1 - Foxpro Data-base software $1152.00

1 - Aldus Pagemaker V5.0 software $1090.00

1 - Wordperfect MS-DOS 6.2 software $2099.00

Total $11921.00 (Australia)

$8436.00 (U.S.A.)

Installation (Programming and setup) $500.00 (U.S.A.)

Grand Total $8936.00 (U.S.A.)

Note: Worked out an arrangement through Australian computer company to expand hardware/software 

capability and waive dutytaxes within the $9000.00 grant budget. Also, the remaining $64.00 (balance 

of $8936.00 from $9000.00) will be utilized to purchase data-discs and paper for printer.

CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ZIMBABWE

Christopher Chipfuya, Conservation Officer, NGZ

Tom R. Chambers, Art Conservator/Curator, United States Peace Corps Volunteer

Note:  Chambers received funding from Social Science Research Council/African Archives and Museums Project, New York City to computerize the Permanent Collection information.