18 Feb 2016

With R225 000 (P160 657.10) for an international residency at the Citë Internationale des Arts in Paris for this year's winner of the Barclays L'Atelier 2016 and having your artwork displayed at the ABSA Gallery in Johannesburg, young Batswana artists have been encouraged to partake in this year's Barclays L'Atelier 2016 and the deadline for submissions of artworks has been set for March 4.

Speaking at a preparatory workshop for the competition, one of the judges who was a judge at last year's competition in South Africa, Monica Selelo, who is also the head of Visual Arts at the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, said the competition is Africa's most prestigious art competition and an ideal platform for young and emerging artists from across Africa.

“One thing that stood out from the artworks we saw was originality and the judging was not easy, hence I want to encourage our artists to up their game and do artworks that are extraordinary,” she said, adding that the competition also allows artists to showcase their talent and get their foot into the visual arts industry.

She said the competition is meant for young African artists aged 21-35 years and by the submission deadline of March 4, all artworks should have been submitted to the National Museum.
Selelo said most the artists in Botswana like copying other people's work and that should stop.

For his part, public and media relations manager at Barclays Bank Botswana   spencer  Moreri said the bank is committed to improving the arts and lives of the youth in Botswana.

“In line with government's continued strive towards youth development, we also at Barclays fully support initiatives aimed at such,” he said, adding that the Barclays L'Atelier 2016 is sponsored by Barclays Africa. Ends