International Museums & Contemporary Art
CIMAM Annual Conference 2026
Harare, Zimbabwe
20 November – 22 November 2026
International museum and contemporary art professionals gather in Harare for one of the world's leading forums dedicated to modern and contemporary art museums.
Days
Hours
Min
20 Nov 2026
About the Conference
What is CIMAM?
CIMAM, the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art, brings together museum directors, curators and cultural leaders from around the world for its Annual Conference. This is the 58th edition of the conference, and the first time in CIMAM's history that it will be held on the African continent, hosted in partnership with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
Why This Conference Matters
The CIMAM Annual Conference is one of the most influential gatherings for modern and contemporary art museum practice worldwide. As the 58th edition and CIMAM's first ever on the African continent, the 2026 conference aims to strengthen global representation and equitable cultural dialogue within the network.
Why Harare Was Selected
Harare was selected to question Western-centric definitions of "best practice" in museum work, and to centre African institutional knowledge, asymmetrical power contexts, and culturally diverse curatorial approaches within global museum discourse.
The Role of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe is the host institution for CIMAM 2026, coordinating venues, local programming and the exhibition activities that accompany the conference.
Significance to Zimbabwe's Cultural Sector
Hosting CIMAM 2026 places Zimbabwe's cultural sector firmly on the international stage, creating new relationships between Zimbabwean institutions, artists and the global museum community.
Significance to African Contemporary Art
CIMAM 2026 is a significant moment for African contemporary art, offering a platform to reframe global conversations about museum practice from an African vantage point.
Schedule
Conference Programme
opening
Welcome & Official Opening
Welcome performance by Albert Nyathi, followed by official opening remarks from Raphael Chikukwa (Executive Director, NGZ), Amanda de la Garza (President, CIMAM...
keynote
What are we keeping alive when we keep an institution alive?
Opening keynote by Gabi Ngcobo.
keynote
Special Address
Special address by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Head of State and Government of Zimbabwe.
workshop
Breakout Sessions
Four parallel subthemes: (1) The Museum as Ecosystem — Interdependence, Maintenance, and Mutual Aid; (2) Museums and Policy — Negotiating National, Regional, an...
chronist
Chronist's Reflection
An interpretive reading of the day's keynotes and breakout discussions by Meleko Mokgosi.
break
Lunch
tour
Curated Studio Visits & Cultural Encounters
Visits to Animal Farm Artist Residency, Chitungwiza Art Centre, Mbare Art Space, NGSVAD (National Gallery School of Visual Art and Design) and Post Studio Arts...
networking
Dinner
Hosted by The Bouckaert Family Trust, Greendale.
opening
Welcome & Introduction to the Day
Hosted by Stephanie Rosenthal and Suzana Sousa, members of the 2026 Content Steering Committee. Venue: Harare International School.
workshop
Breakout Sessions
Parallel working sessions across the day's three subthemes.
presentation
Invited Presentations & Panel Discussion
Afropresentism.OS: Embodied Eco Logics and Sourealism (Neema Githere); From Qonaqtar to Community: Building Publics Through Art in Central Asia (Inga Lāce); Exh...
chronist
Chronist's Reflection
An interpretive reading of the day's discussions by Esther Chipashu.
break
Lunch
tour
Curated Studio Visits & Cultural Encounters
Visits to Dzimbanhete Art Interactions, First Floor Gallery, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, National Museum of Human Sciences and Village Unhu.
networking
Dinner
National Gallery Sculpture Garden.
assembly
CIMAM General Assembly
Annual General Assembly for CIMAM members. Venue: The Exchange, Country Club.
opening
Welcome & Introduction to the Day
Hosted by Renée Akitelek Mboya and Smooth Nzewi, members of the 2026 Content Steering Committee.
keynote
Towards a Cosmopolitan Radical Hospitality and the Post-Colony Museum
Keynote by Thembinkosi Goniwe.
presentation
Invited Presentations & Panel Discussion
Radical Welcome: Rethinking Access, Belonging, and the Politics of Invitation (Mandivamba Rukuni); From a Place We Eat From — portals and corridors (Anawana Hal...
chronist
Chronist's Reflection
An interpretive reflection on the day's keynote, breakouts and panel by Memory Biwa.
break
Lunch
closing
Closing Remarks
Closing remarks from the 2026 Content Steering Committee.
tour
Curated Studio Visits & Cultural Encounters
Visits to CECA, Dominic Studio, Kumba Kwedu (artist in residence Michele Mathison), Nherera Hub (performance by Nora Chipaumire), Tarisa Visual Art Studios and...
networking
Closing Dinner Celebration
Chapungu Sculpture Village, supported by the Higherlife Foundation.
Who's Involved
Organising Team & Speakers
Raphael Chikukwa
Executive Director
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
RJ
Rtd Justice Mafios Cheda
Board Chairman
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
Fadzai Veronica Muchemwa
Curator of Contemporary Art
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
LM
Livingstone Muchefa
Operations and Administration Manager
National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
FK
Fortune Kaseke
Business Development Manager
Higherlife Foundation and National Gallery of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
Gabi Ngcobo
Director
Kunstinstituut Melly · Netherlands
David Teh
Associate Professor
National University of Singapore · Singapore
Thembinkosi Goniwe
Art Historian, Curator & Writer
Rhodes University · South Africa
Neema Githere
Writer, Artist & Relational Architect
Studio Nkisi · Kenya
Inga Lāce
Curator
Almaty Museum of Arts · Kazakhstan
Hamza Walker
Director
The Brick · United States
Mandivamba Rukuni
Director
Professor Mandivamba Rukuni Consultancy · Zimbabwe
Anawana Haloba
Artist
Livingstone Office for Contemporary Art (LoCA) · Zambia
Eva Lin
Director
mt.project · Taiwan
Meleko Mokgosi
Contemporary Artist & Associate Professor
Yale University · United States
Esther Chipashu
Curator of Ethnography
National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe · Zimbabwe
Memory Biwa
Historian & Artist
· Namibia / Germany
Host City
Welcome to Harare
International delegates arriving for CIMAM 2026 will find a city rich in art, culture and history: from the National Gallery's collections to Harare's vibrant creative community and places of cultural interest across Zimbabwe.
Your Host
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe
Founded to collect, preserve and exhibit Zimbabwean and African art, the National Gallery of Zimbabwe has long been a home for the country's contemporary and historic artists. Conference visitors are warmly invited to explore the Gallery's collections and exhibitions beyond the conference itself.
Discover the National Gallery of ZimbabweWhere It Happens
Conference Venues
For International Visitors
Discover Zimbabwean Art
HM
Henry Munyaradzi
Sculptor
historic
MT
Moffat Takadiwa
Sculptor / Mixed Media
contemporary
KM
Kresiah Mukwazhi
Multimedia Artist
contemporary
TG
Tapfuma Gutsa
Sculptor
contemporary
TM
Thomas Mukarobgwa
Painter
historic
HL
Helen Lieros
Painter
historic
PZ
Portia Zvavahera
Painter
contemporary
Felix Shumba
Multidisciplinary Artist
contemporary
Eva Raath
Printmaker / Textile Artist
contemporary
Franklyn Dzingai
Printmaker
contemporary
Gideon Gomo
Sculptor / Assemblage Artist
contemporary
Pardon Mapondera
Textile / Recycled Materials
contemporary
For delegates
Map of
Zimbabwean Art
A dynamic map of the country's contemporary art scene: 78 artists, 15 spaces and a glossary of the ideas that connect them.
From CIMAM Harare
Daily Stories
Partners
Who makes CIMAM 2026 possible
Partners
Sponsors
