House of Friends sets path to carry on the Kenya Arts Diary publication

Kevo Stevo - Maasai Mbili Art Collective

After ten years of the current Kenya Arts Diary publication being under the care and love of Nani Croze and her team it is time for a change. House of Friends has committed to keep it going for another decade. Learn all about it here.

This project is about Community. The East African Arts Community that is.

Artists of Eastern Africa:
2020 [New Norms]
The evolution of the Kenyan Arts Diary

A Call to East African Artists. Join us and be a part of this evolution to a new normal.

Call to Enter; East African artists 18 years of age and above. Artists living in or of birth from the East African Region including, (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan) are invited to submit an application. This call is for visual art for the annual publication & exhibition series:

Artists of Eastern Africa: 2020 [New Norms]
The evolution of the Kenyan Arts Diary

Yes, the small art book many have gotten to know and love is making a transition as it enters its 11th year. Kenyan Arts Diary (KAD) was an incredible springboard for sharing work of artists, galleries, and the art scene; mostly of Kenya and its neighbors.

First, we would like to take this opportunity to share the history of the KAD while reflecting on and giving thanks to its founder, team members and supporters. KAD launched the first publication in the form of an annual diary that highlighted emerging and established Kenyan artists towards the late part of 2010. The new book grew from an idea from Nani Croze, after seeing a like concept in South Africa. While cell phones existed and the internet was blooming, it was not in full play like today. The idea of a printed journal/calendar for your desk to use throughout the year was viable. Over the years, the book has presented more than 700 artists. The Ads throughout the book also became an archive of galleries and hot spots of the Kenyan art scene year after year.

As we watched technology explode with the arrival of cell phones and the internet, so did the East African Art Scene. KAD for sure had a role to play. It helped to develop the new expansion and appreciation of local artists. KAD was a part of this pinnacle time and the building of this creative economy. Maybe even having a hand in encouraging and connecting those who are now currently established and emerging influencers of the scene today.

We thank the founder and arts nurturer Nani Croze; the late Dr. Eric Krystall, Kenya’s well known arts reporter, Margaretta Wa Gacheru, Peta Meyer, Diana Maigwa, Kulfis Bhakoo, Lydia Galavu of the National Museums of Kenya, Dion Koigi who pioneered the exhibitions that coincided with the annual launch & release of each KAD published, including the support from Kitengala Glass & Research Trust and Heinrich Böll Stiftung.

So where are we today? We find ourselves in a Global Pandemic that has altered so many aspects of life in ways we could never imagine. As time rolls forward we will find many of these changes may last for years. In 2019 I, Jamey Ponte,  and the House of Friends team committed ourselves to taking on the next leg and carrying the torch forward for KAD. We will be here for the next decade taking on the task of publishing this tool for the East African Arts Community.

We already knew many new changes were going to be made, but with the arrival of a global pandemic, we now see changes are inevitable. We are creating “New Norms”. “We knew we were going to shake it up, that was already well in the plan. Funny thing is only a few months back the largest concern we had was moving it forward and tackling the resistance to change” says Ponte. He concludes, “COVID has in a way freed us of those traditions and norms and at least gave me the chance to say, the hell with it let's make this happen and do what can be done in a creative and smarter way. Let’s keep our commitment and at the same time be bold to really go out and make this the ideal tool we feel can meet our manifest and be sustainable.”

Working with a Manifest for any project is key. Putting the commitment and goal out there for anyone to see and feel welcome enough to join the action is first and foremost. People are even encouraged to criticize or just watch to see where things go. House of Friends is a place that makes things happen. We have learned to work with the cards we are dealt. For sure, we have been dealt a bad hand to start the launch of this new project. However, we are going to take this hand and play it card by card even change the game or the rules. New time, “New Norms”.

Artists of Eastern Africa: 2020 [New Norms]
The evolution of the Kenyan Arts Diary

Our Manifest: Carry forth the first decade of work the Kenyan Arts Diary has provided with their continued dedication for growth and exposure of the East African art community. We are committed to sharing the art scene, helping launch emerging artists, archive and collect a yearly time capsule of established artists. We are committed to keeping you informed of the commercial gallery scene; the outsiders and what is in-between. Consider all depths and corners of the visual art scene and include what inspires it, stimulates it or even crushes it. Give a voice to the artists, the change-makers and influencers. Record the truth and full current history of each year. Finally yet importantly, make the exposure of this collection wider than ever perceived.

“So you can see we are not the old norm- we are not afraid to make some noise and for sure can handle criticism. We know how to include and keep it moving. We have our work cut out for us and we dream to find a way to include and document a full archive of East Africa’s visual art scene. The art community at large is invited to play its part” - Jamey Ponte.

An easy way to do that is to complete the Artist Call. Second, keep an eye on an invite for you to do more. It is your Art Scene so make it what you want it to be. We have this pandemic to push [New Norms] -make it a new one you want and dream for.

To include works in the Artists of Eastern Africa: 2020 [New Norms] The evolution of the Kenyan Arts Diary visit this link to learn more:



Sincerely.

Jamey Ponte and the entire House of Friends team.

Artists of Eastern Africa: 2020 [New Norms]
The evolution of the Kenyan Arts Diary 

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Past covers of the Kenya Arts Diary