Artist CampusWith Vera Chisvo
Talks > Artist Campus > Vera ChisvoOur last session in the Artist Campus series, saw Vera Chisvo discuss Artivism: the use of art for critical change.
ABOUT THE SESSION.
Vera powerfully shared on political history of Zimbabwe as a backdrop to the cultural and artistic movements birthed as protest/infrastructure against attacks to freedom of speech.
We asked ourselves: what is the role of art, artivism & self-expression in this context?
“When you put yourself out there, you are always open to attack.”
- Vera Chisvo
SESSION INSIGHTS.
The Grey Area - How some artists have managed the high risks of artivism:
Get backed by international NGOs, embassies fame and popularity.
Know the laws.
Get support from human rights lawyers.
Have an exit strategy.
Be even bolder that they are too afraid to touch you.
Creative Documentation.
“This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilisations heal.”
- Toni Morrison
About the Artist
Vera is a Zimbabwean based funky jazz vocalist and guitarist. As a proud activist and philanthropist, she recently founded a creative hub in Harare, Zimbabwe, the Incubator ZW: a virtual hub that aims at inspiring and motivating creatives to reach their full potential.
The hub has three main focus areas of working with creatives with disabilities, creating opportunities for creatives in marginalized areas and promoting the use of art as a form of activism.
Incubator ZW also hosts bi-monthly podcast and video blog called Her Hour, that promotes freedom of speech among young Zimbabweans about issues that affect them in their everyday lives.
Listen: ‘her Hour (ZW)' Podcast 
About the Series
Talks > Artist Campus > Amyra Leon
Artist Campus
In our Artist Campus series, artists from across the world share big ideas and reflections on matters of interest to their practice: