Dear young Kenyans,

Are you 18 – 25 years old? Are you creative and innovative? And are you ready to share your heritage with the rest of the world? Then the National Museums of Kenya is inviting you to help us promote the role of art as one of the critical ingredients in the definition of the Kenyan heritage and identity.

How do we propose that you do this? By participating in a National Visual Arts Competition whose theme is “Experiencing Kenyan Heritage through Art.”

Participating artists will take part in regional competitions that will be held in selected museums around the country in August 2012. Three winners from each region will be selected for the national competition at Nairobi National Museum in December 2012.

The grand prize is a one week visit to London museums and galleries with organized tours to art studios and institutions giving you a chance to share and exchange ideas on art and heritage.

It is envisioned that the heritage art competition will be ‘Biennial’ and the theme and medium of work will change with every competition. For the year 2012 only paintings and sculptures are eligible.

If you are interested in participating in this competition please read the concept and details attached.

In case of further queries visit any of the museums listed below or email the art curator on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Karen Blixen Museum, Malindi Museum, Fort Jesus Museum, Kisumu Museum, Kitale Museum, Hyrax Hill Museum

THE CONCEPT

“Experiencing Kenyan Heritage through Art”

In line with our mission of promoting the conservation and sustainable utilization of national heritage, the National Museums of Kenya came up with an art competition whose theme is “Experiencing Kenyan Heritage through Art”.

The questions posed are:

What is the place of art in our heritage?

How do we experience our heritage through art?

Art celebrates our cultures and civilizations from its basic forms to its most sophisticated levels. Art enables us to make observations about the past and present, to build linkages that we later come to refer to as our heritage. Art can be used to express who we are, and also what we are – technology, economy, spirituality and social well-being. If you can use your art talent to help the world understand who we are as Kenyans, past or present - then you will have generated an experience of Kenyan heritage through art.