31 Oct 2019

Preparations of unearthing the winner of the 15^th edition of the Thapong Artist of the Year awards (TAYA) are ongoing.

The annual awards, which are expected to be held at Thapong Visual Arts Centre on November 21, are open to Thapong Visual Arts Centre members from different art disciplines including young artist, photography, print making, painting, installation, graphic design and sculpture.

The main objective of the awards is to promote competiveness and quality production of art works in Botswana.

The awards also give the much needed exposure and visibility to disadvantaged artists who are constrained by lack of opportunities and access to markets. The centre coordinator, Reginald Bakwena said this year’s prize money was P45 000, and the winner would be enrolled in an exchange programme in one of the Zambian Arts Centre.

The exchange programme, he said would foster international creative exchange, deepen understanding across cultures as well as create ties between Batswana artists and communities and counterparts abroad.

He added that the exchange programme was fundamental because it created an environment for genuine compromise and conciliation and prepared Botswana to contribute both artistically and economically within the global society.

In addition, Bakwena acknowledged their family of sponsors, which included Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Foundation, Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Botswana European Union and Technical Cooperation Facility, for their contribution in the development and growth of the arts in Botswana.

The Awards would ultimately promote competitiveness amongst artists and foster quality production of arts in the country. ENDs