The Art Pages - Serving a Community in Zambia

The idea was a collective one and the fact we all came to the same conclusion independently just goes to show how in-sync we all are. My colleague Zenzele Chulu was not long back from his residency in Cameroon where he had been inspired by the work of Gody Leye and the Art Bakery who have their own newspaper, very simply produced. I had just come back from North Carolina where I became deeply enamoured of Asheville for its vibrant art scene and especially the many free art publications produced in the area.

Perhaps the idea was so obvious we just didn't see it, or perhaps we thought it was too much work, but our blog wasn't reaching anyone in Lusaka so we needed a new strategy. Hence 'The Art Pages' was born and as soon as we got the word out that we were planning a free paper solely for the art scene in Lusaka and Zambia as a whole, the response was at once overhwelming and also moving.

Now a small group of us are working hard to develop our first issue due out July 29th. The need for an art paper that serves Lusaka and also promotes the rich and largely unkown art life here is long overdue. Lusaka waits with bated breath.