Thapong Centre braces for Gabs Art 2007

"Thapong has identified that artists in Botswana and the entire region (SADC) are facing challenges which need to be addressed during the workshop, " said Bakwena. The youthful Bakwena, who is also an artist in his own right, listed some of the challenges that artists face. These include lack of a market for their works and networking, shortage of sponsorship, lack of training and promotion of contemporary art.

Some of the primary objectives of the workshop include addressing challenges faced by artists in the SADC region and Central Africa, facilitating exchanges of experiences between artists and offering artists an opportunity to present views on contemporary art in their respective countries.