Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"

The Functions of Art and its Educational Impact in Malawi
First Research Exchange with Malawian Partners in Spring 2010: Aims and Results

Dominique Lämmli and Annemarie Bucher (Project managers) IFCAR/ZHdK

As biennales and other worldwide art events increasingly show, the functions of the liberal arts have changed and expanded. Different artistic phenomena, such as modern art, contemporary art, world art, tourist art, traditional art, ethnic art, and so forth co-exist and correspond with the situation prevailing on the global scale. The Functions of Art and its Educational Impact in Malawi is the first part-project to be realised within the core research area Why Art? Functions of Art in a Global Context at the Institute for Contemporary Art Research (IFCAR), Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), Switzerland. The part-project with Malawian partners has opened up an interesting and specific possibility to investigate on a local level the central issues of our core research interest. The project began following a request from Zipatso Academy in Salima, a newly built secondary school, in search of advice about helping its visual arts curriculum respond to various current problems.

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. The national long-term development strategy for Malawi (Vision 2020) envisaged the total eradication of poverty by the year 2020. The strategy assigned high priority to the education sector, which is considered pivotal in bringing about social and economic transformation. Art has been recognised by the Malawian Government as a motivating force to develop teaching strategies,
improve the creative industry, and develop vocational know-how. The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife & Culture is a member of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA). IFACCA members have identified arts
advocacy as a key challenge. Their vision is a dynamic intercultural network, whose aims are to share knowledge and create understanding so as to promote a world of artistic and cultural diversity. The Swiss Commission for UNESCO
recognised the part-project The Functions of Art and its Educational Impact in Malawi as a contribution to the implementation of the International Year fort he Rapprochement of culture.

The part-project enquires into the local functions of art in Malawi, and considers its position within the global context. It also aims to transfer know-how from university and research institutes in Malawi and Switzerland to the local community in Malawi. Coherent artistic strategies can support entrepreneurship in many ways, and the project aims to discover these possibilities. While there are a few local stakeholders in Malawi to implement this strategy of cultural development, there is nearly no networking.

The results of the University Exchange in April/Mai 2010 succeeded our expectations. Our research field and interest has been assessed as highly relevant by University members as well as by stakeholders. Hereinafter a first workshop has been mutually designed. The partners involved are the University of Malawi, Zipatso Academy, Warehouse Culture Centre, Cultural Heritage Arts Foundation CHAF, The Visual Arts Association Malawi VAAM, The Goethe-Liaison Office, The French Cultural Centre, artists and other stakeholders. The workshop was successfully conducted in Sept./Oct. 2010 in Salima at the Zipatso Academy and accompanied by an exhibition and a Symposium & Public Discussion on Contemporary Arts & Culture in Malawi at the Blantyre Arts Festival BAF. The Speakers included Mr. Bernard Kwilimbe, Deputy Director, Department of Culture in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture; Ms Villant Ndasowa, Founder/Director, Malawi International Film Festival; Mr. Mathews Mfune, Director Music Crossroads Malawi. A reader will be available by May 2011 on
www.ifcar.ch. Furthermore an electronic platform will foster ongoing discussion and facilitate efficient information transfer among all stakeholders. Together with the Cultural Heritage Arts Foundation, Zipatso Academy and University of Malawi
further mutual research is scheduled for July 2011. First results will be implemented into the secondary school curriculum of the Zipatso Academy by august 2011.

Keywords/disciplines: Arts, Art Theory, Art Practice, Art Ethnology, Art Education, Malawi

Partners in Switzerland
Institute for Contemporary Arts Research
Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK)
Postfach, 8031 Zürich, Switzerland
Project Managers:
Dominique Lämmli, dominique.laemmli@zhdk.ch
Dr. Annemarie Bucher annemarie.bucher@zhdk.ch

Main Research Partners in Malawi:
University of Malawi
Chancellor College
PO Box 280, Zomba, Malawi

Dr. Mufunanji Magalasi, Senior lecturer in Drama and Developement Media
mmagalasi@chanco.unima.mw

Joe Chimwenje, Senior Lecturer in Drama/Theatre Arts
jchimwenje@chanco.unima.mw

Massa Lemu, Lecturer in Fine Arts
mlemu@chanco.unima.mw – massalm@gmail.com

Kungoni Centre for Culture and Art Research Centre
Fr. Claude Boucher Chisale PO Box 41, Mtakataka, Malawi admin@kungoni.org

Zipasso Academy Salima
Head: Martin Schaer, Local Manager Noel Nkoma
Kaphatenga, Salima, Malawi
info@martinschaer.ch