SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL TALENT THROUGH THE ROVING GALLERY AS BIHL AND THAPONG COLLABORATE FOR VISUAL ARTS PROJECT

The Botswana Insurance Holdings Limited (BIHL) Group remains committed to playing a long term role in celebrating, preserving and growing the local arts and culture space in Botswana, building on a strong heritage of investment in the space. This month, as part of its 45th anniversary commemorations, the BIHL Group proudly shone a spotlight on an initiative which had been running for over two years, The Roving Gallery, an initiative in collaboration with Thapong Visual Arts Centre.

 

The Roving Gallery aims to accelerate visual arts in Botswana, with artwork displayed across BIHL Group premises as well as select occasional exhibitions for greater exposure and marketing of the incredible work. Since inception the BIHL Roving Gallery has featured artists including:

  • Veraya Edwards
  • Ditshupo Mogapi
  • Velalias Ndaba
  • Mokwaledi Gontshwanetse
  • Kentse Bogatsu
  • Reggie Bakwena
  • Thabo Keorapetse
  • Felicity Male
  • Tuelo Pule
  • Thabiso Kefalotse
  • Wilson Ngoni

The intention is to highlight local talent, and professionalise in the industry so that visual art can develop further into full time professional employment that provides a substantive and meaningful income for Batswana.

 

Continued the BIHL Group CEO, Catherine Lesetedi, “We are incredibly excited to talk about The Roving Gallery, accelerating visual arts in Botswana, a sector that has indeed been hard hit by the effects of this pandemic. As part of a 45 year-strong commitment to nurturing arts and skills among Batswana, we take pride in supporting the Arts and Creative Industry in the long-term to showcase, nurture and grow the rich depth of talent we have right here in Botswana. As the BIHL Group, we understand that supporting and driving the creative sector is in fact paramount to the National socio-economic development.”

The collaboration stems from the Group’s first engagement with Thapong Visual Arts Centre in 2003 through Nationwide arts workshops. Since then, the fervent desire to make greater headway in discovering and developing local talent has only grown stronger, and the relationship greater.

Said Reggie Bakwena, Director at Thapong Visual Arts Centre and an artist in his own right, “These are some of the things corporates need to do to build up talent for people to create their own employment. The Roving Gallery has been a great opportunity for us because, currently in Botswana, we have a shortage of galleries. The BIHL Group has helped answer a call to increase the number of galleries in the country. They gave us an opportunity for artists to have their work seen.”

For more information and testimonial on The Roving Gallery, watch the video here. #45YearsStrongerTogether