CANON PETERSON ARTS AND CRAFTS HISTORY
Canon Peterson Arts and Crafts was formed in 1975 after the death of Father Canon Peterson who was a duty Roman Catholic priest from Netherlands. He came to Zimbabwe known as Rhodesia in the early sixties and settled in Bulawayo at Syrin Mission.
He then moved to Harare known as Salisbury and settled at Nyarutsetso in Highfield. With his love and passion for Art he started teaching and inspiring young generation to join cultural Art. He moved to Mbare in 1969 and formed Farai Art Centre. The idea was to put all artists at the same place so that they learn and compete with each other. He continued to teach and encourage young to join cultural art.
He was responsible for day to day running of Farai Arts Centre.
He also organized raw stones and marketed the product. Father Canon Paterson died in 1974 after a short illness. In 1975 the artists who remained decided to form a co-operative Mashakani as the chairman and Tinaapi Chihota as the secretary. They named it Canon Paterson Arts and Crafts in remembering him. It became the first black co-operative in Rhodesia. They are lot of artists who passed through Canon Paterson and they include Ernest Chiwaridzo, Sam Kuvhenyurwa, Kasper Darare, David Gopito and Shadreck Chatsama.
Canon Paterson has exhibited locally, regionally and around the world. It has done exhibitions at National Gallery of Zimbabwe, S. Africa and American, Germany, Britain and Etc. It also gave birth to other co-operatives like Kubatana Art Centre and Chitungwiza Art Centre.
It is located at corner Chaminuka and Mbare street near the market and Rufaro Stadium. It has over 50 members still producing quality work.