23 Mar 2017

With the creative industry touted as the future of massive job creation and a huge contributor to Botswana’s economy, commendable efforts being made by some to kick-start this transformation will make government happy on its diversification drive.

One such young lady who has heeded government’s call on diversification is Mmina Gaebonwe.

She started modelling at the age of 16 and became the first winner of ‘Gemstones Model Search’ competition at 18, and then she was on her way to New York to work with the biggest agencies in the world (Wilhelmina Model Agency).

Having  seen the world and experiencing different aspects of the creative industry, Mmina will on May 27 host an Art and creatives workshop at Zambezi Towers, which is on its second year running.

Speaking in an interview, Mmina, EmIvy Model and Talent Management director, said the focus for this year’s workshop would be on visual artists.

“Our workshop aims to give creatives a platform to exhibit and showcase their work. This year we are focusing on visual artists. The main aim of this year’s exhibition is to take these artists and their work to available and thriving markets in the world i.e Paris, London, Milan, New York. We want to make the rest of the world aware of the talent and world class standard creatives in Botswana. We want to give them an opportunity to compete in a global market so as to develop and grow the creative economy in Botswana,” she said.

She said artists would also be presented with a chance for cultural and intellectual exchange of ideas about growing the creative industry in Botswana with speakers from different fields sharing knowledge.

Mmina also noted that she decided along with her team to have such a workshop to promote cultural exchange, job creation and most importantly access to information and ideas on how young creatives in Botswana could generate wealth and value from ideas and talents.

On how they choose artists who will exhibit, Mmina said artists were required to bring their previous work for consideration and chosen by a team put together by EmIvy Model and Talent Management.

“There are 13 to 15 selected creatives that have been selected to exhibit.

There will be a silent auction at the event where the attendees can purchase these once-off kind pieces,” she said, further adding that this event would promote Botswana as a successful exporter of cultural goods and services in the world.

“These will benefit the economy of Botswana by building the creative industry in Botswana so that creatives can practice this trade in Botswana. This will also support local business such as photographers, make-up artists, and bloggers by exposing them to the international market,” she said. ENDS