Short-listed TAYA 2012 works go on display

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Monday November 5, 2012 00:00

 

The adjudication for the awards started in earnest on Saturday in Gaborone by a four-member panel led by a curator at the Taping Centre for the arts. The 2012 TAYA will be held next week on November 15. The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Shaw Kgathi is scheduled to be the guest speaker at the glamour event that will kick-off at 6.30pm.

On Saturday, an elated Thapong director, Reggie Bakwena praised local artists for packaging their submissions in a professional manner. 'I am very happy about the response. The artists seem to have taken note of our advice regarding quality of the works. The manner of the presentation of their works this year  is reflective of  growth. I am also pleased that  artists from  places such as Tsabong and Maun also heed our advice.' Bakwena reckons the increase in prize money may be another reason for the improvement he has seen.

The winner of the grand prize will walk away with P30,000. This is P5,000 more than last year's figure of P25,000.This year's runner-up pockets P25,000. There is also P10,000 prize for best print design, while the best young artist will get P20,000.

Bakwena told The Monitor that they are still open to receive late sponsorships from potential partners. Already, Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) has announced a P100,000 sponsorship for the event with the Department of Culture chipping in with P50,000. Other sponsors so far are the French Embassy (P10,000) and Mascom (P35,000). The budget for the event is P300,000. 

Bakwena said their aim is to showcase the growing artistic excellence of Botswana in other countries in the region through what he terms travelling exhibition. This would see Thapong artist of the year works being exhibited in foreign lands as part of publicising the Botswana arts awards and taking the country's art-works to the international stage.

Bakwena who has overseen all the last eight TAYA said the previous winners of the awards continue to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Uhuru Kgope, who won the TAYA in 2009 is currently on a three-month exchange programme in South Africa. Last year's winner, Abednico Sechaba is currently studying for an MA in fine arts in Australia.