25 Apr 2022

Visual artists need skills and a shift of mind to position their entry and participation in the art world. 

Curator, also former South African soapie actress Lorato Motshwarakgole said during a workshop dubbed Project Kgodiso in Gaborone recently  that it took some interventions to advance each artist to an international practice.

She shared that the workshop’s  intention was to bring perspective on how artists could find their voice to make a breakthrough in the global market.

Motshwarakgole said having travelled the world and attended gallery fairs which targeted the African market, it worried her when she did not seen  Botswana artists participating.

“Art falls under luxury markets, ask yourself why world top banks collect arts, it is because they have found a niche in visual arts,” she said.

Motshwarakgole took artists through her art career which she started when she was 17 years and eventually led to the establishment of her company Ora Loapi, a creative consultancy aimed at facilitating and promoting global circulation for visual arts and research.

“At Ora Loapi we try to come up with best practices of how to get local and international artists to access those broad markets,” she said.

Motswarakgole also urged artists to know that they were the voices of the society hence the need to have a powerful listening and responding approach to explore and penetrate  markets.

One of the participants, Ephraim Rapalai said what Motshwarakgole was bringing to the table would help them broaden their spectrum.

He said all they needed as local artists were mentors like her who were well vested and travelled to inject such knowledge into the industry which had not achieved the recognition it deserved.

Thapong Virtual Arts Centre coordinator Reginald Bakwena thanked First National Bank for making it possible for such an initiative which he said would enlighten artists on how to spread their wings.

He said lessons such as how to handle finances and how to invest would also prepare them for the future.

“This will help us to think differently and to learn how to brand ourselves,” he said.

First National Bank Riverwalk Branch manager Omphile Molatole said they had planned Project Kgodiso which aimed at training artists in business two years ago but was put on hold due to COVID-19.

“We have collaborated with other stakeholders such as CIPA, Ora Loapi, and other artists to learn about branding, marketing, how to protect their work and also to learn about the services offered at the bank,” she said.

The workshop attracted more than 20 different visual artists. ENDS