Thapong gears for annual awards
GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer
| Thursday August 7, 2008 00:00
Bakwena says that entries are overwhelming and that artists from all over the country will be participating.
He further says that the centre has been receiving calls from people enquiring about the awards, which shows that artists are eager to participate.
Bakwena went on to say that the awards have been greatly improved and that the overall winner stands to get many fringe benefits.
'We are going to organise an exchange programme for the winner so that he or she might go to another country and get the necessary exposure. We hope that the person, will give back to society by participating in a series of workshops we have planned for next year,' he says.
Bakwena adds that the overall winner will also have an opportunity to hold a solo exhibition towards the end of the year, which will further help expose him or her.
He urges all artists, established and up and coming, to be part of the awards because even if they do not win, their works will appear in a catalogue, which will give them exposure.
According to Bakwena, even primary school children are welcome to try their luck since that will help them nurture their talent.
Although the awards are exclusively for registered Thapong artists, the centre has decided to allow non-members to submit their works.
To make registration possible for everyone, there is a special discount for students and the unemployed. Registration for non-members closes on August 15 at 5 pm.
The overall winner will walk away with P 7, 500 while the runner-up and the third winner will get P 6, 500 and P 5, 000, respectively. There will also be a P 2, 000 media award for the journalist who gave Thapong and its artists the most coverage.