10 Aug 2014

The purpose of developments at Thapong Visual Art Centre is to create room for artists to work in a suitable environment to enable them to showcase their talent.

Officially opening the developments at the centre, acting Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Vincent Seretse said the centre would act as a platform for artists to share ideas.

“I have no doubt that these developments will make Thapong an interesting place to visit to appreciate the arts and provide an opportunity for recreation,” he said.

Seretse said one of the key strategies of his ministry in the development and promotion of the arts is collaborating with art associations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

He said that was the reason why the ministry funds art associations to assist in the implementation of the President’s Day Competitions programme, adding that the government has now moved to support infrastructure development to support the art.
Government undertook to expand working and exhibition spaces to provide opportunities for local artists to develop and excel, he said.

He said the ministry supported six regional museums to the tune of P150 000 each, totaling P900 000 while Thapong was supported with P2.2million, making the total investment in the arts P3.1million.

The acting minister noted that Thapong Visual Arts Centre has a critical need for exhibition spaces and studios due to the increasing number of artists in Botswana and as a result the centre reached out to different stakeholders to help fund these new developments.

“My ministry contributed P2.2million, Diamond Trading Company (DTC) Botswana P700 000, FNB Foundation P250 000, De Beers P75 000, Collegium Book Publishers P10 000 while Plascon donated paint worth P10 000,” he said. He further said the ministry’s attraction to sponsor the developments at Thapong was not only the clear importance of the project, but also the level of accountability and good governance displayed by the board, adding that it was therefore critical for organisations that receive financial support to exercise due diligence and accountability.

Minister Seretse said the arts centre is a healthy artistic environment which seeks to recognise and acknowledge the contribution of the visual arts towards economic diversification.

“The arts sector is critical to the good functioning of an economy through tourism and the development of these facilities is just one indicator that Botswana art is visible and the market continues to show considerable strength, vibrancy and growth,” said the minister.

Coordinator of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, Reginald Bakwena said the project to refurbish the art gallery, construct the studios and café was conceptualised in 2009, implemented in September 2013 and completed in April 2014.

He said the determination to go ahead with the project was out of their conviction that the arts can be developed into a viable revenue earner for Botswana.

“Our country is full of talented people who can be nurtured into artists of repute and make a living out of the arts,” said Bakwena.

He said the vision for Thapong is to provide entrepreneurial development programmes to artists, adding that the studios and art gallery are meant to argument the lack of functioning facilities to artists.

“It is our hope that these facilities will be put to good use and the artwork that will be produced and exhibited here will be worth of investment in Botswana,” he said, adding these facilities will provide visibility to both artists and their art works.

Bakwena further said they face a lot of challenges within the art sector among them inadequate funding, lack of proper training for art practitioners and administrators.

He also pleaded with the minister to advocate for the establishment of the National Art Council. ENDS