Painting, music, dance, and literature are not themselves the tools of politics - and should not be - but they do set yardsticks of aspiration, standards of excellence, and emblems of humanity.

- Jamie Wyeth, American Artist

Historical Context of Rwandan Art

The Rwandan Genocide in 1994 destroyed most of the art community in Rwanda including the Art School of Rwanda (L'Ecole d'Art du Rwanda), emerging Rwandan artists and their artwork.  Today, there are relatively few native Rwandan artists who have the opportunity to express and develop their artistic talents.

The Art Institute of Rwanda (AIR)

MSI has formed a partnership with Ivuka Arts, a group of established Rwandan artists who are dedicated to discovering and nurturing young talent while launching Rwandan contemporary art to global heights. Founder of Ivuka Arts, Colin Sekajugo, has traveled to more than 15 countries studying art, pursuing the goal that Ivuka Arts will live up to its namesake of being a rebirth for Rwandan art.

MSI has partnered with Ivuka Arts to launch the first step toward a renaissance of Rwandan art, AIR.  AIR will be located on the campus of MSI Rwinkwavu and will foster a new generation of artists and performers who will revitalize the artistic heritage of Rwanda and share their inspiration with the community and the world. The rebirth of Rwandan art at AIR will be achieved through the Artist-in-Residence Program, Visiting Artists Program, and the AIR Gallery.

Artist-in-Residence Program

Each year, selected artists from Ivuka Arts will be invited to live and work at AIR.  They will have access to state-of-the-art studio space and supplies.  In return, they will teach visual arts to students of MSI Rwinkwavu.  Courses offered will encourage students to elicit their own talents while learning traditional Rwandese textile art as well as cotemporary painting and sculpture.

Visiting Artists Program

Many of Rwanda's emerging artists are very young and are actively seeking continued training and mentorship in their craft. To address this need, AIR will bring artists and instructors from around the world for art workshops. This ongoing training will be available to all emerging Rwandan artists.

AIR Gallery

Located near the entrance of the MSI-Rwinkwavu campus, the art gallery will be the heart of AIR. The gallery will display local Rwandan art created by Ivuka Arts artists and talented MSI students. It will also serve as an attraction for tourists traveling to the nearby Akagera National Park, providing visitors with the opportunity to purchase unique Rwandan art. The sales of art will enable AIR to be a self-sustaining initiative and will help cover operating costs of MSI Rwinkwavu. 

How You Can Get Involved

If you are interested in helping support the creation of AIR, there are numerous ways in which you can get involved. The most important way of helping currently is through a donation to the AIR construction fund.  The construction of AIR will cost approximately $120,000 USD.  Breakdown of costs is as follows:

Naming opportunities are available; if you are interested please contact Brendan Kennealey at bkennealey@missionschoolsinternational.org 

To learn more about Ivuka Arts and their mission in Rwanda please visit their website at http://www.ivukaarts.com/