Zimbabwe artists connect art, work, and sustainability

From poetry to mixed media, from rural to urban, these are Zimbabwe’s freshest takes on the future of work in a green economy.

“Work is a transformative force in our society, and Art is also a powerful force for change – it inspires, and moves, people to act.” – Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General

The ILO’s first Competition for the Arts in Zimbabwe is one paint stroke in the country’s rich history of art and culture. It invited artists from all over the country to create new works of art inspired by the changing world of work, the green economy, and just transition.

These are Zimbabwe’s freshest takes on the future of work in a green economy, from poetry to mixed media, from the countryside to heart of the city.

The competition was organized in celebration of the ILO Centenary. The ILO office in Harare brought the competition to life, in partnership with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, the Culture Fund, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe and the British Council. The initiative aims to boost the country’s creative economy and spark conversations inspired by artists about the forces that are transforming the world of work.

The creative economy can be a source of structural economic transformation, socioeconomic progress, job opportunities and innovation. It can also improve social inclusion and sustainable development. Throughout history and across cultures, art has sought inspiration in the world of work. Today, we turn to artists to find new ways of understanding and expressing what a sustainable and inclusive future of work may look like.

Zimbabwe can trace its flourishing creative economy to the artists profiled below. Get to know them, their art, and explore their ideas about the world of work.

If you go: artworks are on display at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe until (date)