ABOUT US

The Urban Culture & Heritage Initiative, a non-profit Zimbabwean trust, was formed to manage the creation of Mbare Art Space, a major urban renewal project in the oldest, most densely populated community of Harare, Zimbabwe. Our primary objective is to establish a beautiful, functional and sustainable arts community and studio space. We are responsible for overseeing the transformation of the existing property, operating the arts center and facilitating community outreach. We are partnering with leading architecture programs in Germany and the US, local and international artists, private citizens and corporate sponsors to bring this vision to life and sustain it long term.

MOFFAT TAKADIWA

Moffat Takadiwa is one of Zimbabwe’s leading contemporary artists. In between his own successful art practice and gallery shows, Moffat has mentored dozens of Zimbabwean artists and offered space & support from his Mbare-based studio. His focus is artists, studio spaces, and the elements required to support an artistic practice. His contacts within the global community of artists, galleries, and art institutions have already generated tremendous interest in this project.

GERI KAM

Geri Kam is the driver of the management elements of the project: planning and strategy, keeping the team on track, staffing, procurement, budget, audit, and legal issues. As a retired Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department, she has 30 years experience delivering major projects around the world. She is also the lead on donor partnerships and has been the writer and documenter of the project.

NORA ELISABETH MÜLLER

With over 20 years experience in architectural work, Nora has extensive contacts within the industry. Having been one of the lead implementers in Cape Town, South Africa for the STO Foundation’s student architecture project in Langa Township (2013-2015), she has direct knowledge of how the design-build process can work. Now resident in Zimbabwe, she is the design visionary of what the Mbare Art Space can become.

AUDRA WILSON-MAX

Audra Wilson-Max is the Founder and CEO of a leading international African brand and communications firm. Her expertise is the design, production and integration of digital platforms and creative solutions for public and private sector clients. Her foundation in the creative arts drives Audra’s passion in the growth and development of the sector and the individuals that represent it.

SEI-KASHE M'PFUNYA

Sei-kashe M’pfunya is a Master’s student in Public Policy at Yale University. She is interested in empowering non-profits and foundations for social impact in sub-Saharan Africa. She is a curatorial assistant at the Yale University Art Gallery and brings experience from non-profit and philanthropic sectors that include art and culture, STEM, and women’s issues. Sei-kashe plans to work for development consultancies that center on sub-Saharan Africa.

ALEXANDRA NICHOLS

Alex Nichols is a Philadelphia-based Product Manager specializing in e-commerce, website performance & data analytics. Her focus is the intersection of tech and the creative arts, collaborating with stakeholders across marketing, e-commerce, engineering, and design to define new features and product roadmaps. She is a 2020 Bioengineering graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.