The Final Stroke artworks for premium auction
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday June 5, 2026 12:00
The auction, organised by CityFan Live in partnership with the Museum Café at the National Museum, is expected to begin at 3 p.m. and continue into the evening. Organisers have also called on the corporate sector to support the initiative, which they say combines artistic excellence with social impact. Speaking to Arts&Culture on Wednesday, CityFan Live founder Victor Leshomo said the auction will feature paintings created live during the Final Stroke campaign, a two-day show held at the World Athletics Relays at the National Stadium a month ago. According to Leshomo, what began as a voluntary initiative to build excitement, participation and national pride around the Debswana World Athletics Relays has evolved into a pioneering public engagement platform that combines sport, art, culture, tourism, economic empowerment and social impact. Leshomo said the initiative was conceived to address what organisers viewed as limited opportunities for visual artists during the global sporting event.
“The World Athletics Relays was a historic occasion for Botswana and Africa, but we felt that visual artists were not sufficiently included in the empowerment opportunities linked to the event. That is why we created Final Stroke,” he said. The campaign invited Batswana to nominate and vote for their favourite painters through social media platforms. The artists with the highest public support advanced through a selection process that eventually identified five finalists. The selected artists were then invited to the National Stadium, where they painted live over two days in front of spectators, athletes, international visitors and media representatives. Leshomo said the artists were provided with painting materials through support from Artswana, while CityFan Live covered logistics, accommodation, meals, refreshments and branded merchandise. Artists who participated include Bezuba Kaunda, Joe De Artist, Kenneth Bale, Gomolemo Kgosimodimo, and Michelle Motshedi. “The atmosphere was incredible.
We had visitors and media representatives from countries such as France, Germany, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe. The response was overwhelming,” he said. He added that several people expressed interest in purchasing the artworks immediately after they were completed, but organisers opted to reserve them for a formal auction. “We wanted to create something special and ensure the artists receive proper recognition and value for their work. The auction allows us to achieve that while also supporting a meaningful cause,” he explained. Leshomo said the project had two primary objectives. The first was to provide exposure and economic opportunities for local artists on a global stage. The second was to support children living with disabilities through a charitable contribution from the auction proceeds. He revealed that 25% of the proceeds will be directed towards programmes supporting 100 children living with disabilities, in partnership with Eclipse Adventures Media.
A further 45% will go directly to the participating artists. “The artists did the heavy lifting and were at the heart of the project. It is important that they benefit significantly from the proceeds,” Leshomo said. The remaining funds will be shared among project partners and service providers involved in staging the auction. Organisers believe the initiative is unique and could set a precedent for integrating visual arts into major sporting events. They hope the auction will attract collectors, businesses and members of the public interested in supporting both local talent and community development. Leshomo added that the success of this groundbreaking concept has further opened discussions around future collaborations with the National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB). “We want people to realise that art can inspire, create opportunities and make a difference in society at the same time,” Leshomo said.