25 May 2014

The government continues to avail numerous programmes in different ministries and department to empower artists, says Maun Administrative Authority (MAA) senior assistant council secretary, Masiela Mandoze.

Officially opening the 2014 Ngamiland Visual Arts exhibition, which is part of the President’s Day competitions recently, Mandoze said the competitions aim at embracing different artistic codes such as music, dance, poetry and basketry.

Mandoze said if artists were given the a platform, they would economically flourish. He commended initiatives such as art activity day where artists display and sell their arts and network with fellow artists and potential clients.

“Ngamiland District has proved to be the bedrock of crafts as evidenced by over P600 000 from the sales of crafts and prize money that was generated from the 2013 President’s Day competitions, the bulk of which were from baskets,” he said.

He further said three artists from the district were sponsored on arts and crafts cultural exchange programmes and workshops in Chile, China and Australia in 2013.

Mandoze said the ministry further allocated funds for the refurbishment and minor upgrades to hosting museums such as Nhabe Museum.

He commended Botswana Visual Arts Association (BOVAA), Nhabe Museum, Ngwao Boswa, Tsodilo Trust, Trust For Okavango Cultural And Development Initiatives (TOCaDI) and Okavango Arts Association for their support.

Mandoze said through such partnerships and collective effort, the desired impact can be felt and ultimately contribute to government initiatives of principles of self-reliance and poverty alleviation.

For his part, the art teacher and adjudicator, Herbert Moiba said the winners of the 2014 Ngamiland Visual Arts exhibition, who would be going for national finals, were assessed using criterions up to par with the national standard, which explains why some categories did not have first position.

Artists competed in categories such as beadwork, leather work, basketry, ceramics and fine art; sculpture and photography and all in all 13 artists will be headed for the nationals.

He urged artists who did not meet the standard to work hard to better their artworks and work on pieces that would give a good first impression, have originality and context among other things. ENDS