The Kenya Arts Diary Group is a volunteer group of artists and art lovers who first got together in 2010 to publish an annual diary in order to promote Kenyan artists and their art. It is a not-for-profit group and proceeds from sales and advertising fund the Kenya Arts Diary Residency Award (KADRA) to support promising young artists with apprenticeships and residencies, working under established artists in Kenya. So far four editions of the Kenya Arts Diary have been published, 2011 - 2014. This year the launch took place on the ground of the Regional Office of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, with music by Kenyan world musician Ayub Ogada, shortlisted for an Oscar for his music in the film, The Constant Gardener.
Concept of the diary
The idea to create the Kenya Arts Diary came from Nani Croze, the well-known glass artist who has her studios in Kitengela. The diary covers one full calendar year with full-page colour reproductions of art by approx. 60 Kenyan artists, together with a photo of the artist, bio and contact information. There are also blank pages to store and collect creative ideas, an art directory section with contacts for galleries, museums and cultural centries, plus a limited number of advertisements from galleries, institutions and sponsors.
Goals of the Kenya Arts Diary
1. To make art accessible to ordinary Kenyans who may not have thought about art or considered themselves art lovers.
2. To bring together in one place an ongoing archive of contemporary Kenyan art, showing established artists next to young up-and-coming ones, and documenting trends in Kenyan art as a reflection of the society artists live in.
3. To create a fund to help support young artists. In 2013 the Kenya Arts Diary Residency Award (KADRA) was launched. One-month artist residencies were awarded to two talented young artists. Mike Kyalo of Nairobi spent his residency at Kuona Trust, and Ezra Joab of Kisumu spent his at Kitengela Glass. Kenya Arts Diary covered the cost of one month’s accommodation, meals and pocket money for both artists, and paid for art materials and transport. Depending on cost, one or two one-month residencies will be awarded a year, with the artists free to choose their place of work, e.g. Kuona Trust, Paa Ya Paa, Kitengela Glass Studios, or elsewhere in Nairobi.
The Diary is published by Kul Graphics Limited on behalf of the Kitengela Glass Research & Training Trust.