A Vibrant Space for Arts to Thrive in Tanzania

Nafasi Art Space would like to sincerely thank all the donors and contributors who generously continued to support March - June 2023 quarterly period. Your donations have had a significant impact, helping us implement our objectives key areas in Nafasi Art Space strategic plan 2021/26 : artistic skills, audience engagement, partnerships, and sustainability. These achievements serve as a testament to the collective effort and support that have allowed us to thrive and make a significant difference in the art and cultural landscape in Tanzania and globally. We are grateful for your invaluable support that has contributed to our success in furthering art and culture sector.

The following are the highlights achievement on different key objective area;

Artistic Skills and Professional Development: During this period, Nafasi Art Space prioritized the growth and development of artistic skills. Our Nafasi Academy and Film Club played crucial roles in providing theoretical and practical sessions. The Nafasi Academy focused on professionalizing curatorial and art management skills for emerging curators and cultural practitioners. The Film Club honed film scripting skills and provided industry insights. These programs empowered artists and creatives to excel in their chosen fields and showcased their talent. For example, the Nafasi Film Club resumed their film workshop every Thursday, Two visual artists from the Nafasi Academy Alumni (2020 & 2022,) Hedwige Tairo and Kija Caroynline, both  have had the opportunity to attend a 2-months residency at 257 Art gallery in Burundi. Additionally, Nafasi Art Space hosted a two-week printmaking workshop facilitated by renowned Tanzanian artists Gadi Ramadhan & Sebastian Mnjindo (kokoTen Studio).

Audience Engagement and Visibility of Tanzanian and East African Art: Nafasi Art Space emphasized engaging our audience and expanding our reach. Through active social media management and strategic content creation, we fostered meaningful connections with our followers. Our online presence , via including our website, newsletter, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, allowed us to share updates, opportunities, and stories of our artists with the public in Tanzania and internationally. This resulted in increased engagement, reaching 15,405 followers on Instagram currently  and making us one of the most followed cultural spaces in Tanzania with many audience in Germany, Kenya, USA, Madagascar, Rwanda, Uk and many other spaces. Additionally, we hosted events, art talks, and workshops for artists , curators, cultural creatives as well as outreach to primary school children, attracting a diverse audience and building connections with the community in result some parents have enrolled their children to our saturday art classes of children program  led by Dar Art Youth (DAY) taking at the space every Saturday. 

Partnership and Network Building: Collaboration remains vital at Nafasi Art Space. We forged partnerships and built networks within the cultural and creative sectors in Tanzania and outside. A major highlight was our participation in the Global-giving Gathering, where our team represented Nafasi Art Space and had the opportunity to facilitate opening & closing sessions, connect with other beneficiaries, and explore possibilities for future collaborations.

Sustainability and Resilience: During the reporting period Nafasi Art Space prioritized area of  sustainability and resilience by conducting research, gathering stakeholders' views on diversifying revenue collectiing sources and initiatives such as prints sales, merchandise sales and venue rentals which will have huge contribute to our financial stability. During this period, we participated in Global-Giving campaigns, April 2023 Little By Little campaign generating not less than $100 USD in small recurring donations,gift cards and receiving in-kind support from various partners. We also invested in capacity building for our staff, equipping them with essential skills by attending online webinars organized by Global-Giving to learn on developing fundraising campaigns and engage the local community in supporting  the space to continue provide platform for artists and art lovers to engage and share expeirences.

In conclusion, Nafasi Art Space sincerely thanks our generous donors and contributors. Your support has greatly impacted on implementing the Nafasi Art Space Strategic plan 2021/26 durig this period. Together, we have made a significant difference in the art and cultural landscape. As we continue our journey, we kindly request your ongoing support to help us reach our goal of $50,000 we almost halfway and to support our upcoming July- Bonus fundraising campaign initiatives. Your continued contributions are vital to our success. Thank you for being part of our mission to promote art and culture.

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