The Rhodes National Gallery in Salisbury was designed and directed by Frank McEwen, a British citizen credited with bringing Shona Sculpture to the spotlight. The Gallery was officially opened by The Queen Mother on 16 July 1957 as part of her Royal Tour. It was originally to be called the Rhodes Centenary Gallery, but the name was changed just prior to opening.
The Rhodes Gallery was conceived as a national institution, representing the newly formed Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland, although its origins go back to the 1930s. Salisbury City Council agreed to take full responsibility for overseeing the building, establishment and administration of the Gallery, and the Mayor of Salisbury was made a fixed appointee to the Board of Trustees.
The first responsibilities of the Board were to establish funds for the building, to select the building design, and to appoint a Director. They next established funds for the running and administration costs of the Gallery, and made provision for an endowment fund for the acquisition of a permanent collection.
Postcards
1960 – Coombe & Dewar (Pty.) Ltd. (X Series – Type A)
