Image  Gallery of ‘Before and After’ pictures of the Kuona Trust Library.

Work has been completed on the upgrade of The Kuona Trust Art Library which currently houses one of Kenya’s most extensive collections of art literature, including rare archive material. The Library is the only non-University based public arts library in Nairobi and a vital resource.

Project highlights.

• Development of online access to the library through a digital cataloguing system- widening access to its resources.
• Purchase of more diverse art books and subscriptions to art publications further broadening this important collection of literature.
• Purchase of up to date technology including new computers (and internet access) DVD player and digital projectors broadening the resources available to artists and researchers.

The refurbishment has already led to increased membership to and the consolidation of the library as a resource for studio artists, as well as a donation of LP records and music CDs and the creation of a music section in the library.

Chris Paul Daniels shares with us the trailer for his sixty minute feature film made during his Fellowship Residency at Kuona Trust, Kenya,

Kuona Trust was founded in Nairobi, Kenya in 1995 to serve the visual arts and has since worked with over a thousand artists. It provides studio space, training and opportunities as well as hosting international artist workshops and residencies- Kuona is the only organisation of it’s kind, working exclusively with visual artists, in East Africa.

Artist and film maker Chris Paul Daniels (originally from Rotherham, South Yorkshire) has been selected to take part in the Triangle Network International Fellowship programme at Kuona Trust, Nairobi, Kenya as resident Fellowship artist.

Take a look at Chris’ blog of his time at Kuona here

Daniels’ work is characterised by participation with the public and experimental documentation of communal perspectives and memories regarding geographical location. He has exhibited work nationally and internationally, including BFI Southbank, IKON Gallery, Chisenhale Gallery, National Media Museum, FACT and Cornerhouse. After graduating from the Royal College of Art, he won the Deutsche Bank Award for Art in 2010 for his collaborative project with Maria Anastassiou, Kelvin Brown and OKO Lab.

The first Wasanii International Workshop in Kenya took place at Elsamere Field Studies Centre on the shores of Lake Naivasha in 1997. The workshop was organised by the first Kenyan artists to attend Triangle workshops elsewhere and together they formed the working group to set up Wasanii for the first time. The group, supported by Kuona Trust, included painters Sane Wadu and Theresa Musoke and sculptors Elijah Ogira and Omega Ludenyi.

Nearly every year since the first workshop, Wasanii workshops have taken place, based at either Elsamere or on the island of Lamu, alongside local workshops.