Art in Rwanda continued to show positive signs of growth this year with several artists across the capital Kigali holding successful exhibitions that attracted hundreds of art enthusiasts to each event. But what was conspicuously discernible during these events was that they attracted more of tourists and expatriates than Rwandans themselves.

A number of exhibitors attributed this scenario to the fact that it’s the former group of people who need something memorable to take back to their respective countries. These souvenirs would remind them of their sojourn in the country in years to come. Others opined that most Rwandans don’t have spare money that they can spend on luxury while a cross section of them said that Rwandans still don’t value art so much and are, therefore, adamant to spend their money on art pieces.

But the determination of the artists themselves to promote the burgeoning industry was laudable. In April, artists from several arts centres and galleries in Kigali converged at the lush compound of Epa Binamungu’s farmland plus his Inganzo Art Gallery in Masaka to participate in a global art project dubbed, Imago Mundi, aimed at bringing the artists together and finding the best avenue to market their artwork internationally.

The event organiser, Feisal Osman from Kenya, advised the 50 participants to strive to preserve their country’s rich cultural heritage through art. The successful event managed to bring together pioneer contemporary painters, established artists and their upcoming counterparts, both men and women.

Binamungu, himself a veteran painter, managed to achieve a similar feat of bringing artists from different art centres together, but this time during a solo exhibition he held at Umubano Hotel this month. That many artists graced the colourful occasion was a clear show how the pioneer contemporary artist is revered within Rwanda art circles.

Topmost aggressive marketing of art pieces this year, however, has to go to Emmanuel Nkuranga of Inema Art Centre in Kacyiru. Nkuranga came up with a monthly event called "Art Jam” in which he intended to bring together his clients and potential ones for an evening of bonding as artists and art lovers shared their interests in art. Nkuranga and his brother, Innocent Nkurunziza with whom he co-founded Inema, also opened another art gallery at the Heaven Restaurant earlier this year, from where they have managed, so far, to stage a number of exhibitions.

One such exhibition that proved a success was held on November where the main theme was to blend art, food and music. But again, it was the tourists eating out at the restaurant who were conspicuous by their number of attendance, prompting one person to comment in a newspaper opinion that "When Rwandan Art is tailored for the upper class, (then) you understand its Art for the elite. Art should be allowed to freely flow among all classes.”

Ivuka Arts Centre, also in Kacyiru, managed to stay in the news, courtesy of the Kurema, Kureba, Kwiga, an initiative by American Judith Kaine, whose mission is to fight HIV stigma through art. Kurema’s partnership with Ivuka, established last year, continued to flourish throughout 2014, and they embarked on a number of mural paintings, both in the rural areas and in Kigali, including the Kigali Regional Stadium, Nyamirambo. The two groups also in October participated in the first ever arts Umuganda during which Ivuka artists did community work by painting some unsightly outdoor premises in Kacyiru.

Regional recognition was also on the cards when Tony Cyizanye, the founder of Yego Arts Centre, was invited to join other 30 established artists from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and DR Congo in a month-long event, dubbed KLA ART 014, held in the Ugandan capital Kampala. The event saw the reopening of Kampala’s Railway Station to the public for an exhibition.

But it was not only the established artists who hogged all the headlines. Green Hills Academy hosted an arts exhibition celebrating 80 years of Akagera National Park in October at the school, after a visit to the park. The enthralling and compelling pieces of art shown were clear indication that the young too have talents.

Kurema group also held an art contest among students from various schools countrywide with the winner announced during a colourful ceremony held at Ivuka Arts Centre in October. Several other artists also held exhibitions at their respective art centres and public places around Kigali.

However, a number of artists decried that the government’s support to art industry is still wanting and called upon those concerned to do more in promoting Rwanda’s art industry.