‘A Creative Learning Space' – Insight into the Nafasi Academy // article - rebecca yeong ae mzengi corey's personal website and portfolio

‘A Creative Learning Space' – Insight into the Nafasi Academy // article

July 2020

Emergent Art Space correspondent Valerie Amani introduces us to the recently opened Nafasi Academy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, at Nafasi Art Space, a vibrant art centre and platform for artistic exchange where contemporary visual artists and performing artists come together to create, learn, inspire, exhibit and perform.

Nafasi Academy openly advocates for free thinking, experimentation and SPACE, departing from the University model that opts to focus traditionally on technique (with a capital T), often leading to technically capable but conceptually lacking artists. Nafasi Art Space director, Rebecca Corey, highlighted this when asked what makes the programe different.

“The curriculum was designed around questions of how art can serve the goal of further enriching human potential. It needed to be community driven, critical and liberatory. It connects artists with one another, asking them to seek freedom and emancipation through art. Freedom to be who they are and say what they want. Free from political, economic and psychological constraints.”

rebecca yeong ae mzengi corey

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