Visual Artists Urged to Utilize Nommo Gallery

Fred Mutebi a celebrated visual artist, and Board Member of Uganda National Cultural Center representing visuals, has urged artists to utilize the space and exposure at the revamped Nommo gallery.

Addressing visual artists at the launch of the portfolio review workshop that was held at Nommo gallery, Mutebi, told the artists that he sold almost 97% of his first visuals which he exhibited at Nommo Gallery.

He revealed that there people in the visuals who don’t know about the existence of the gallery, saying this is the timw for them to reach out and see how they can be helped to exhibit their works.

“This is the opportunity for those in visuals to come. For musicians, it’s the national theatre, for visuals, it’s the Nommo gallery and it’s there for every creative person to utilize,” Mutebi said.

He advised the visuals to create portfolios that will help identify and market their arts.

“If there is an artiste out there that has created any form of creation as long as it’s visual, let them create there portfolio. A portfolio is form of work that we have created. Let them bring it,” he said.

Adding,” we have a curator who can asses it and advice accordingly. If it’s ready for exhibition, we shall showcase and definitely the proceeds will go to the creator in this case, the artist.”

Phillip Balimunsi, the Nommo Gallery Curator said they have free spaces where artistes can come and showcase their works with out interference from the curators.

Nommo gallery is Uganda’s National Art gallery and is a component of UNCC. It was established in 1964 and of recent, the government of Uganda started renovating the home of visuals.

Robert Musiitwa, the Public Relations Manager at UNCC, said that Nommo gallery and the UNCC are back at the same time and the main purpose for the portfolio review workshop is to support most of the artists that didn’t know how to package themselves for both regional and global market.

“You find someone with a very good talent, but they cannot put that into a writing, they can’t create there own portfolio, they can’t create their own CV yet we know at a global level, many times even before you get a job, you get anywhere, they will ask for your portfolio which is what they depend upon to either give you a job, a scholarship or invite you for a residence which most of our artistes have been lacking,” He said

UNCC is a body under ministry of culture that is mandated to preserve, promote, develop and popularize Uganda’s cultural heritage locally and internationally.