Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
3 November 2009
It is total war at Botswana's centre for the arts - Thapong Visual Arts Centre - where nine leading artists have been given six months to vacate the studios.
But in a strongly worded letter, the nine artists have hit back, saying they will not bulge. They have also suggested that the post of the coordinator of Thapong Visual art Centre, currently held by Reginald Bakwena and author of the "offending quit order", should now be advertised.
The nine artists are: Ray Gare, Mothusi Tau, Moses Maramele, Joseph Piet, Christian Nduzo, Andrew Matseba, Mmoloki Matlale, Zachariah Mogaladi and Mmamma Marumo.
Bakwena seems to have stirred the hornet's nest with his October 27 memo, which informed all the artists based at Thapong studios to leave the premises by April next year.
The artists, all founding members of the art centre, were incensed by Bakwena's "eviction" note and handed in their response - signed by seven of the nine residents of Thapong Visual Arts Centre.
"As it has been ordered that artists exceeding three years of residency at Thapong must vacate as of April 2010, we think it is only fair that the coordinator is also given the same contract and the post advertised," they wrote.
In his memo, the coordinator said the centre is faced with challenges of shortage of studios and working space. He said Thapong has 320 members, and that people need to share space so that all members benefit equally from the government initiative of buying art- works and other collectors.
"Those who have been working/renting at Thapong for more than three years are given until April 2010 to give others a chance. The studios will be advertised next year, April 2010. Thapong has to be seen helping all members establishing themselves because it is strategically placed for collection of art. There will be a rotation of artists."
The memo also says the new lease agreement will be introduced next year, while the studio rentals will go up from P250 to P400 because Thapong cannot afford to pay running costs even to improve studio spaces.
In their response though the Thapong- based artists question how many of the 320 Thapong members have requested for studios, and how many of them regularly submit artworks for exhibitions. "We understand that among the 320 members are teachers, students, corporate members, and people employed in other sectors. How many full-time artists of the 320 are actively seeking studio space?"
"Concerning the government initiative of buying artworks and other collectables, we believe we played a major role in the directive passed last year. We are those artists who have been working full-time at Thapong and we understand that all bequests and donations that have been made to Thapong by donors and sponsors are done in the names of artists actively working in the centre.
We believe we have the right to harvest the fruits of our contribution in the growth of the visual arts sub-sector in particular at Thapong," the artists state.
The artists dismiss the coordinator's concern that there is a shortage of studios at Thapong.
"If there was a shortage of studios, why was one studio given to a musical instrument maker instead of a visual artist?" The artists also say there is a structure next to Qore Art Gallery that was meant to be a storeroom but was then used as a temporary pottery workshop.
They questioned: "Isn't this another potential studio?" They also argue that there is the old Thapong office, which is currently rented out to Botswana Musicians union (BOMU).
"Thapong is oriented towards the visual arts, this does not include musicians, actors and others. We think the BOMU office is another potential studio".
They also contend that there is enough workshop space at the back - where a tent was previously erected - which is always open to artists, but no one has shown any interest in using it.
In a separate interview, coordinator Bakwena told the Showbiz on Friday that Thapong Visual Arts Centre is meant to be an incubator for emergent artists, who would be expected to open their own studios once they have benefited.
Bakwena says in the past, artists like Isaac Chibua moved out of Thapong to establish their own studios. He told the Showbiz that Thapong must be seen as a strategic point for the art market where everyone comes to buy art. "We have decided on a rotational system, which will affect some Thapong-based artists ."
He also says their donors want to see proof that Thapong benefits artists, which should be reflected in "new artists coming in and others going out" as an established lot.
"We host workshops for these artists, we assist them in talent development, and we should be seen to be giving more and more artists a chance to work here in the studios and grow," Bakwena said.
He later furnished the Showbiz with records of government support of the arts, particularly reflecting government trade with Thapong-based artists.
The record shows that last year P500, 000 worth of artworks were bought via Thapong, and Bakwena says the "bulk of it benefited Thapong based artists".
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