02 Aug 2022

Players in the creative industry have been encouraged to take advantage of the new art gallery at Molapo Piazza.

Launched in Gaborone on Friday, the fully operational art gallery is hoped to bring together both the old and the young in the creative industry to share ideas and strive for originality.

Speaking during the launch, founder and owner of Molapo Crossing Mall, Luc Vandecasteele said the opening of the gallery was a way of giving back to the creative society by providing a platform to continuously sharpen their talents.

He noted that the creative industry played a role in problem-solving, hence the need for continuous support.

“What will the world be without the creative industry?

The fresh and innovative ideas by the players have proved to be a solution to some of the everyday challenges encountered.

Therefore there is a need to reach out and support them in any possible way,” he said.

Vandecasteele also said the gallery would enable players to produce appealing products that could penetrate the local and international markets and aid towards self-empowerment as means to boosting the economy of the country.

For his part, coordinator of Baagisanyi Creative Tank, a local support group for young artists, Legodi Segopolo expressed gratitude and said the gesture gave hope to those who were on the edge of giving up due to lack of exposure.

“This is a motivation to the young and upcoming artists who are still on the road to establishing themselves,” he said.

He further urged artists to improve their creative skills, citing animation of local cultural aspects among others and also encouraged other stakeholders to emulate Vandecasteele efforts, saying government could not do it alone.

“There is raw talent out there that needs to be groomed, but issues of lack of resources experienced by some of the emerging artists has crippled such talent,” he said. ENDS