26 Nov 2015

Youth Development Fund (YDF) beneficiary, Thuto Lobakeng has expressed gratitude towards the government youth fund initiative as it has assisted him to open his art business to sustain himself.

The soft spoken lad said he applied for the funding and was assisted to the tune of P100 000 which he then invested into his business dubbed Artistas visual arts in which he uses coloured pencil, pencil, acrylic paint and chalk paster to come up with a finished products.

“Our business deals with visuals which encompasses three parts, namely fine art, drawing and painting and mural. There is also crafts which include  pottery, basketry, sculpture, mosaic while commercial art includes designing logos, flyers, business cards, book cover and packaging,” said Lobakeng.

He indicated that he opened doors of his business for the first time in October this year, and that since then, his burning passion for it has ensured he never looked back on his mission to make it flourish. 

Lobakeng revealed that he started developing love for art at a tender age while still doing his junior school and graduated with the passion to senior school.

He however, said that unfortunately, at senior school he could not enrol for art full time. 

“After finishing my secondary school I studied at Botswana Accountancy College where I later dropped out, and that was when I applied for the funding. The business currently has three staff members,” he said. 

Furthermore he said that he ensures to employ different robust marketing strategies to entice clients, citing the recent exhibition at the pop up show exhibitions which proved fruitful as later many people gave him business, especially on drawing of potraits.

“I have also approached the owners of Itowers and they wanted samples of my work. In addition they requested me to do art drawings of the four Presidents of Botswana, which I did and submitted,” he said.

Although he remains upbeat that he will continue to find market for his business he criticised some big companies’ habit of buying art products abroad especially in South Africa at the expense of the locals.

“At the moment some big companies buy products from South Africa, hence locally produced art works end up suffocating in the market. However, I plan on going to the CBD to explore any business opportunity. This trade is my passion, I love so I now know competitors and possible the market,” uttered Mr Lobakeng.

The young artist further said his main competitors are Thapong visual art and different individuals but his main market lies mainly with hotels.

The 24 year old however, challenged Batswana to educate themselves more about art as there is still a knowledge gap about art amongst many locals. He believes that Batswana prefer portraits while foreigners love abstract art which they also buy in large numbers.

“Art is still not fully appreciated in Botswana, my suggestion is that students who possess great potential in art should be enrolled to the next academic level even if they fail junior school exam. I further challenge the youth to take the YDF knowing fully what they want to do and they should not be discouraged by challenges,” advised  Lobakeng. Ends