The Matters That Count Arts Festival

Why participate

Give students a supported way to explore pressure, belonging, digital life, choices and the future. Bring their work to audiences who can listen and respond. Connect creative practice with school culture and continuing action.

What is planned

Three days in Harare during First Term 2027 mid-term break. A target of 30 core schools, plus a national digital Open Studio route. Exact dates and final venues are pending. Lomagundi is the presenting anchor and founding institutional host.

What students do

Choose from five themes and twenty elective creative briefs. Produce original work in one or more art forms, plus the shared What Continues Through Us legacy response. Work passes school curation, safeguarding, rights and festival selection.

The school commitment

Name a coordinator, arts lead and safeguarding contact. Schedule a 45–60-minute Mental Health Hour at least once every three weeks. Coordinate permissions, creative preparation, supervision, agreed travel and post-festival reflection. Additional rehearsals or specialist training are scoped separately.

Participant care

No forced personal disclosure or diagnosis through art. Fiction and metaphor are welcome. Separate permissions cover participation, public display, recording and any research. Adults retain responsibility for safeguarding and referral.

Eligibility and cost

Adolescent focus, approximately ages 10–19. Grades 5–7 participation remains conditional on appropriate approvals. Fees and package inclusions are not yet confirmed. School and family costs are clarified before commitment.

The next step

Register interest. The Secretariat discusses fit and provides the basis for an institutional decision. Joining the waitlist is free and does not reserve a place or commit the school.

Festival Secretariat: tapiwa@nojobsjustwork.com · Content reviewed 14 October 2026.