Triangle Arts Trust Knowledge and Skills Sharing Residency Programme
February/March 2010
Goddy Leye from Art Bakery, Cameroon hosted Zenzele Chulu from Insaka, Zambia
In February 2010, Zenzele Chulu from Insaka, Zambia (www.artshost.org/insaka) was hosted by Goddy Leye at Art Bakery, Cameroon (artbakery.250free.com/homeEnglish.htm) as part of the continuing Knowledge and Skills Sharing programme organised by Triangle Arts Trust.
At the start of the residency Zenzele and Goddy set out selection of aims that they hoped to achieve throughout the programme. These included developing a link between Insaka and Art Bakery, experiencing first hand some of Art Bakery’s strategies as an organisation, a critical appraisal of Insaka and Art Bakery, and for Zenzele as the resident, an introduction to the local art scene and the development of personal encounters in the visual art context in Cameroon.
Zenzele visited a selection of local organisations and galleries, as well as artists studios which allowed him to discover new works and discourses, exchange information with artists directly and explore the prospect of future collaboration. As well exploring the local context Zenzele also presented his own work with Insaka to the public and the team at Art Bakery.
Discussing their two organisations, Zenzele and Goddy learnt about the strategies developed by each organisation, tried to further understand the reasons for successes and failures, and considered workable strategies for the future and for fundraising.
As Zenzele explains he gained a great deal from seeing how Art Bakery operates:
There is so much to learn from the Art Bakery set up. The project has blended well with the local community, the community is open to work with artists in various projects, and they have seen the benefit of having artists, literally transforming a once sleeping village into a vibrant artistic community.
The links between the two organisations were discussed further with Zenzele and Goddy now hoping to facilitate a residency opportunity for an artist to travel between Insaka and Art Bakery in the future.
The significance of the programme is highlighted by Zenzele:
It was one the most important developments for me to come to Cameroon and take up the residency at Art Bakery. The quality of exchange is what networks needs in order to emerge as community-based working art projects and organisations.
