Mbare is the oldest township in Harare, Zimbabwe and coincidentally where the country’s biggest market for second hand clothes (predominantly imported waste from western fashion industries) is located. They work with a lot of artists and creatives that use this as a resource to create new clothes and reform/refine their own individual circular practices.

A young generation of Zimbabwean fine artists are being celebrated internationally. Their success and creative thinking can be an asset to the local economy & community.

Yet in Zimbabwe, there is very limited public exhibition space or support for artists. Mbare Art Space's vision is to provide opportunities for skills development and exposure for Zimbabwean artists, offering a counterpoint to the dominance and ubiquity of western cultural works and institutions.

They want to bring in new visitors and position Harare as an exciting place to see contemporary art.

Introducing a new art centre as a major urban renewal project in Mbare township in Harare . . .

This is how it works:

German, American & Zimbabwean students participate in the design and build project.

Private sector support brings the project to life, with installation of utilities (water, power), engineering & construction.

Programmes are being developed with local and international partners to create activity on site and establish the space as a destination

Students return each year and tackle another phase.

They pursue a multi-year commitment by all parties to ensure the sustainability of the physical space as well as the development of the project related to social, cultural and creative aspects.

They are transforming an old beer hall in Zimbabwe’s most iconic high-density neighborhood into a space for artists & creatives to thrive. Mbare is Harare’s oldest & most densely populated township.

Many artists call Mbare home. It’s known for recycling & re-purposing of materials.

Mbare Musika is a major agricultural distribution point for farmers, traders, and consumers.

Uncommon.org designed and built the Mbare Art Space webite. This partnership offers young Zimbabwean developers a chance to refine their skills: working on a high profile project adding to their professional portfolio solving real-world web developer problems with mentors at Google, Facebook, YouTube and other tech firms.