Artists ready to scoop prizes
Spira Tlhankane | Friday October 11, 2019 11:34
After Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) Foundation increased the prize money for the winners of the competitions, more visual artists plan to come forward as they seek to scoop top prizes.
Regarding the TAYA competition, it is open to members of Thapong Visual Arts Centre in good standing. Entrants must be aged 18 years or above.
“A maximum of two are to be accepted per an artist and the artworks should be presentable and be ready for display.
Artworks should also be original and never been exhibited before. Artworks should not exceed 1.5 metres in size and multi part works (up to three parts) will be accepted and regarded as one work,” read some of the TAYA guidelines for this year.
On the the phonebook competition, it is open to Batswana students at junior and secondary schools, both public and private.
“No use of design software to be used in the competition and the BTC as a connector through visual arts message should be clear and easily identified.
The size of the entry must be strictly A4 and the submission should be the original work of the creator and either referencing or copying other works is not allowed since the phonebook cover is a commercial publication,” stated the phonebook cover competition rules.
In an interview with Arts & Culture this week Thapong Visual Arts Centre director, Reginald Bakwena said they emphasise the issue of copyright infringement more, especially in the BTC phonebook cover competition.
“Art is a business so copying or using someone’s work is not allowed.
Plagiarism is not a good way of doing business so it is better to acknowledge or seek permission from the content owner,” he highlighted.
Other than that, Bakwena said they are now ready for artists to submit their work. He further said those who are ready should come forward since the artists have been alerted since June this year.
Bakwena said they have given artists more time this year and expect to host the awards on November 14, 2019.
The winner of this year’s TAYA will walk away with P45, 000 (P30, 000 cash prize and P15, 000 worth exchange programme).
The second prizewinner will take home P25, 000 while category awards will be P6, 000. The media and photography awards are 5, 000 each.
The winner of the phonebook cover competition takes home P40, 000 (P25, 000 cash prize and P15, 000 exchange programme. The second prizewinner will walk away with P20, 000 while the third prize is P10, 000.