ART GALLERIES have in the last few years experienced a boost in Rwanda and they have increased in numbers. Art galleries are a room or a building in which visual art is displayed. Among the reasons art may be displayed are aesthetic enjoyment, cultural enrichment, or for marketing purposes including to incubate and support their artists, often by going above and beyond the normal work of putting on shows, promoting their artists, and selling the works; and to provide services such as financial management or book publishing, to help their artists. The New Times took a look at some of the most likable art galleries in Rwanda, in no particular order. Inema Arts Center Inema Art Center was founded in 2012 by brothers and self-taught painters Emmanuel Nkuranga and Innocent Nkurunziza, the centres mission is to spur creativity for personal, social, and economic growth at its core. Currently, Inema provides space for 10 artists-in-residence to explore their creative talent, specializing in contemporary African art. The art pieces at Inema include paintings, sculptures, and mixed media expressions, all of which are showcased for both visit and sale. The gallery is also home to Nziza Artworks, featuring bespoke jewelry, African linens, and leatherworks made by women at the onsite Nziza Workshop- Art with a mission of training children with limited resources to give them livelihood. Inema also has a cultural dance troupe and it provides a room for weekly traditional dance classes. It is located in Kigali in the suburb of Kacyiru. Niyo Art Gallery Known for its dedication to supporting street children and single mothers living in poverty in Rwanda, Niyo Arts center, is a collection of Rwandan creative artists. It hosts different artists from the region and local artists too. The gallery provides space for 13 artists in residence to explore their creative talents. Among the artworks you can found at Niyo include contemporary African artworks, cultural music, and dance going with drumming. Its main objective is to change lives through utilizing their artistic gifts by providing necessities, such as education, health care, shelter, food, etc. Niyo art gallery was founded by Pacifique Niyonsenga who has delved into a humanitarian visionary, bottomless barrel of music and art through multiple mediums in his decades-spanning practice. He expresses the very essence of every particular theme in a simple yet sensual and fascinating technique. Kigali Arts Center Founded by two former Nyundo arts schools (Ecole dArts de Nyundo) students Fabrice Girihirwe and Casmir Kabandana, Kigali arts center is a hub of creative minds. With its mission to expand and stimulate creativity for individuals, communities, and economic growth, the Kigali arts center provides space to talented artists specializing in contemporary African art. Art pieces at Kigali Arts Center include illustrations, sculptures, and mixed media expressions which are all in their showcase room. The center also has a collection of books, different artistic crafts, creative toys for kids, and many other art objects which are served to all industries in different creative work. It also provides space for both beginners and professionals at their studio to express their ideas artistically. It is located in Kacyiru, Kigali. Envision Media Arts Collective (Rwanda) Envision Rwanda is a media arts collective and social enterprise based in Kigali, Rwanda that produces cutting-edge creative arts from Rwandas top emerging artists. It was founded and owned by Peter Lee, with the mission to help develop the careers of creators from different backgrounds. Envision Rwanda’s multimedia gallery and studio space host a diverse range of filmmakers, photographers, mixed media artists, and creative designers who are provided the platform, equipment, and mentorship for them to build their potential and professionally develop their skills. Envision provides space for different artistic talents. Among the pieces showcased at Envision, are visual arts, mixed media, sculptures, photographs, fashion designs and many other. Inshuti Arts and Cultural Center Inshuti (friend) arts and culture center is a trendsetting institution principally nurturing Rwandas artistic talents. The center is also a multi-disciplinary creative hub for contemporary art, it consists of the main gallery, an open mini kitchen, refreshment bus, a visual arts studio, a performance sculpture garden area, and craft shop. The center hosts a variety of captivating and insightful events and provides conceptual workshops as well as art residence. Godfrey Kalungi Cyubahiro is the brain behind Inshuti arts and cultural center, it provides space for over 5 artists doing different styles, in Musanze District, where they also hail from. Inshuti contains a collection of different artistic crafts including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and mixed media art pieces which are showcased in their gallery. The gallery is located in Musanze district. Abien arts center Abien art center was founded in 2017, by Fabien Akimana, a visual artist who shortened his name to ‘Abien’, a French word meaning ‘Good’ or ‘fine’. The artist says that the studio aims to focus on offering free art classes for children from the community that are passionate about art, public art, and art contests, and showcase art pieces as well as offer a platform for other visual artists. The center is aimed to build unity among society through arts. Abien is located in Kigali city, Kacyiru. Ipfundo art gallery Chaired by Mr. Paul Masterjerb Birungi, who believes that the spirit of art prevails not only in the artists workshop, art gallery, or museum, but is also to pervade every other human interest and enterprise. The message of art to society is contained in the words artistic and aesthetic. Genuine abstract art has a deep appeal. In a collaboration of 10 artists including painters, fashion designers, string artists (Home décor), photographers, and calligraphers. Ipfundo Art Gallery aims to preserve global cultures expressed in art with more emphasis on Rwanda Culture and to avail a centre where youth with varying skills potentials can be developed through mentorship hence leading to the countrys economic development through self-employment. The gallery is located Nyarugenge district, in Kigali city. Ivuka Arts Kigali Ivuka Arts Center opened its doors to the public in 2007 with two main objectives, to transform people’s lives and educate the public through visual arts, discovering and nurturing local artistic talent as well as their artworks. However, Iuka is a union of nine artists who do paintings, sculptures, and crafts where most of their art pieces are displayed. The studio was founded by Collin Sekajugo, and is located in Kacyiru sector, Kigali city. Choose Kigali Art gallery Founded by Emmanuel Nkuranga, in 2019, Choose Kigali hosts his personal collection, displayed throughout the gallery with an advanced booking. The space features a rotating exhibit of the top-up and coming contemporary artists on the African continent. Through his work, Nkuranga leads the country’s growing creative industry, his art pieces include painting and mixed media expressions. Choose Kigali Art gallery is located in Kiyovu sector, Kigali. Indiba Arts Space With the aim to fairly promote local artists, while bettering Rwandas growing art industry and history, Indiba arts space was founded by Willy Karekezi in 2019. The space is revolutionizing contemporary art in Rwanda by increasing artistic and cultural awareness, providing space for other creative activities and offering artists a gallery to showcase their art pieces. Indiba provides space for 9 artists of both gender, doing painting, sculptures, decorations and many other art crafts. Indiba arts space is located in Kimihurura sector, Kigali city.
