History and profile of Thapong
The Thapong trust was formed in 1989 and established the Thapong Visual Arts Centre in The Village in Gaborone in 1999 with the aim of promoting visual arts in Botswana. The Centre, among other things, develops contemporary art, helps artists purse careers in art, and educates artists through workshops focused on drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking.
The centre strives to encourage the community and aspiring artists to be creative, discover means of self-expression and to portray messages by using visual language. Thapong is a membership organization. Members meet and interact primarily during at exhibitions and workshops.
Residency, national and international and workshops
Thapong is the home of a number of local artists. It also runs workshops in different disciplines such as drawing, painting, sculpture and crafts every year.This is mainly done with financial support from the business community and other donors. In these workshops, professional instructors are invited from both inside and outside Botswana
Artists who participate in these workshops are encouraged to give feedback on their experiences to their communities through working with teachers, children and through their own work. Thapong has been successfully organizing international workshops since 1989.
In May 2015 Thapong started operating a café at its premises. The café allows visitors to relax and enjoy the art environment at the centre.
Societal Vision
Thapong envisions a society in which visual arts are valued for their creativity and contribution to skill development and income generation
Mission Statement
To be a dynamic working environment and showcase for contemporary visual arts and to create opportunities for professional practice
Organisational Vision
To be the leading centre for visual arts in Botswana
Societal Vision
Thapong envisions a society in which visual arts are valued for their creativity and contribution to skill development and income generation
Organisational Vision
Mission Statement
Values
Board of Trustees
Chairperson
Ruud Jansen
Treasurer
Mesh Moeti
Member
Keatlaretse Kwati
Member
Kelebogile Morope
Member
Kgomotso Moahi
Member
Ronald Greasley
Member
Ronald Greasley
Member
Tom Ketlogetswe
Partners
