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The Zoma Contemporary Art Center (ZCAC) is an environmentally conscious artist-in-residency project with locations in Addis Ababa and Harla, a historical village near Dire Dawa in Ethiopia.[1]
The idea for the project was developed by Elias Sime who is an artist. It was introduced to the public in 2002 during the art happening "Giiawi #1" in Addis Ababa.
The ZCAC focuses on the promotion of multidisciplinary comtemporary art, international exchange between artists, and the conception and implementation of sustainable, innovative, and environmentally conscious art projects.
With its residency programs designed around different themes (architecture, landscape design, art, documentary film, and education), ZCAC provides Ethiopian and international artists the opportunity to live in harmony with nature, develop new forms of artistic expression, experiment with new techniques and materials, and to find alternative, artistic, and creative solutions to current environmental problems.
The New York Times Magazine called it “a voluptuous dream, a swirl of ancient technique and ecstatic imagination”[2]. The house is the home of ZCAC Addis and features a showroom and a studio for visiting artists. This year, the New York Times selected ZCAC's photo for their article about 52 places to go in 2014.[3]
Another important component of ZCAC’s activities is the establishment of an ongoing educational program with international partner institutions. Since 2002, the center has been regularly hosting educational events, such as workshops at the School of Fine Arts with renowned artists such as David Hammons from New York and Ernesto Novelo from Mexico. With the support of Alliance éthio-française and the British Council, ZCAC has also collaborated with the International Association of Art Critics.
Harla is a small village some 15 kilometers from Dire Dawa. Many archaeological sites can be found Ancient artefacts are still found by the inhabitants as they till the land for farming or dig for construction.
From its inception, ZCAC Harla will be a space constructed by and for artists, built with deep respect for the history of the land and the environment. Resident artists will work closely with natural materials, continuously experimenting to find creative solutions to sustainable contemporary building materials and techniques.
ZCAC Yucatan was initiated by Ernesto Novello after his residency at ZCAC Addis in 2007. It is a thriving art center in Yucatan, Mexico with a variety of art related activities.[4]
