14 Aug 2022

Botswana Telecommunication Corporation (BTC) has been hailed for its role in the development of the creative industry.

Illustrative of this is the latest development, which will see two visual artists Tlotlo Maleke and Gosego Motlogelwa attending a five-day art exchange programme at the Centre of Contemporary Arts Bulawayo in Zimbabwe.

The two are winners of the BTC Phonebook Cover and Thapong Artist of the Year Award respectively. 

Botswana Telecommunication Corporation has paid P30 000 to facilitate the exchange programme inclusive of artists’ transportation, payment to the host facility, accommodation and meals.

During an event to bid them farewell on Friday, Thapong Visual Arts Centre coordinator, Reggie Bakwena said the artists were set to leave yesterday for the exchange programme, which was not the first since the organisation’s partnership with BTC in 2018.

He said to date, a total of five artists had participated in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia as a way of taking Botswana art and culture to the region.

Others have also gained exposure through curator workshops, where they participated in countries such as the United Kingdom and Dubai.

“These cultural exchanges open opportunities for local artists as some of them have art consultancies, which help in promoting works of other artists,” he said.

He further said through the Botswana Telecommunication Corporation partnership, Thapong Visual Art Centre has been able to develop art from the grassroots through workshops conducted for art teachers and artists in areas such as Maun, Mahalapye, Tsabong and Francistown.

He said it was through the partnership that the centre managed to increase its membership from 500 to 3 000, which consist mostly of young and upcoming artists.

He also added that through Botswana Telecommunication Corporation support, thee cenre was able to carry development workshops for artists on how to professionalise their trade by develop profiles as well as art statements, which played a big role when one wanted to do exhibitions.

Botswana Telecommunication Corporation Foundation trustee, Pilot Yane said Botswana Telecommunication Corporation  vowed to help grow the arts as a professional entity that artists may use to earn a living.

He said through this exchange programme, they hoped for artists to sharpen their skills and learn more about the industry.

“Artists are sponsored to attend workshops and share skills with an array of established professionals from the SADC region.

This is to ensure that they gain international exposure, widen their scope and become more competitive,” said Yane.

Yane said while in Bulawayo, artists would tour monuments such as the National Gallery, Mzilikazi Art & Craft Centre and the National Museum as well as other artists’ studios.

He said this would enhance their craft as they would learn the best practices in the field from other professionals outside Botswana. ENDs