11 Sep 2017

Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development, Kefentse Mzwinila says the visual arts exhibition which was held as part of President’s Day Competitions provides a platform for artists to showcase their ability, competitiveness and craftsmanship.

Speaking at an exhibition held at the National Art Gallery recently, the minister said its aim was to highlight the role artists played in the development of the arts sector in Botswana.

“An exhibition of this nature elevates an artist to a higher platform that allows and accommodates creative research in the establishment of strategic partnerships to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Botswana,” he said.

Mzwinila said art exists in every culture for a purpose, to visually communicate aspects of humanity that could not be expressed through words.

“Such expressions need not only reflect beauty, but can also portray the challenge of human experiences and human interaction with the environment,” he said.

Botswana Insurance Holdings Limited (BIHL) has been sponsoring the prize money since 2016 to which the assistant minister said he was appreciated.

Mzwinila said the arts and culture sector has potential of promoting Botswana as a desirable place for investment as well as an attractive and unique destination of choice.

He said participation in the President’s Day Competitions has grown from 14 731 in 2008 to 18 971, adding this has necessitated collaboration with strategic partners outside government.

BotswanaPost sponsored the stamp design category.

“This is extremely commendable and we thank all collaborating partners for their kind gesture in the promotion and safeguarding of our cultural heritage. Your contribution has nurtured this valuable growth and is a substantiation of what a collaborative effort can do for a sector, in this case, the arts and crafts,” he said.

Mzwinila said his ministry in collaboration with the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) and Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry  were working towards the development of the creative industries strategy.

He said the purpose of the strategy was to foster policy decisions towards the promotion and stimulation of the industries in order to enhance tourism, economic diversification, socio-economic and cultural development.

BIHL group financial manager, Kudawashe Mukushi said Botswana’s indigenous artworks continued to attract demand from overseas investors and hold considerable potential for diversifying the economy. ENDS