By Wanetsha Mosinyi
10 December 2007
FRANCISTOWN: Supa Ngwao Museum has hailed their newly introduced Outdoor gallery as a major milestone in the promotion of the arts in northern Botswana. The museum holds outdoor exhibitions every last Thursday of the month.
The museum's director Stella Rundle said the response from enthusiasts has been encouraging since the first event held on October 25. She said they invite two artists (either painting, sculptures or drawing) and three handcrafts people to participate in the gallery.
"This does not only give exposure to artists who participate in the exhibition but also offers Francistown residents an opportunity to appreciate art. The gallery attracts a lot of people eager to see how some of the artefacts are created step by step. When you see how it's done, that's only when you can truly appreciate art." Rundle said the artists not only bring completed artworks but also work on uncompleted ones, which they finish on that particular Thursday. The event starts from 4pm until 8pm, which does not interfere with the ongoing exhibition inside the museum.
"It's an informal event because, for example, to exhibit inside the museum, at least a minimum of 20 paintings are required but at the gallery an artist brings whatever is available, even if it means two paintings. People interested in buying the artworks can do so on the spot and take them home the same day," Rundle said.
The outdoor gallery, she said, also plays a vital role in promoting the museum as people who usually do not patronise the museum visit the exhibitions inside on that day. Currently, the museum is running a textile exhibition that will last until the end of the year. Artists in and around Francistown, she said, would also get exposure that would help them grow as artists and also earn money from their works. "At the last exhibition one the craftspeople sold all the baskets he had. That would not have happened if he had been selling from home." She said crafts people would benefit more from the gallery. "As long as there is interest, we will continue to invite them and it's encouraging because we have a lot of talented craftspeople in the rural areas, for example."
Initiatives, such as taking the museum to people, she stated, cost much money and effort. So she would rather have people coming to the museum at frequent intervals. As a result, Supa Ngwao plans to start a programme that will make it possible for students from various schools to regularly visit the museum.
"Our artists lack exposure, so we must be seen to be coming up with initiatives that will give them the necessary experience. There is much talent in our schools but that talent is often wasted after students complete studies because there are no facilities to ensure sustained grow."
The next outdoor gallery will be held on Thursday (December 13), ahead of the start of the festive season.
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