Nna le Seabe Awareness Art Exhibition returns

Amidst numerous social ills that have plagued the country, the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture will hold an art event titled Nna le Seabe Awareness Art Exhibition from December 9, 2022 to January 31, 2023.

The exhibition has been held annually at the National Museum as part of the ministry’s efforts to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the country. The exhibition has been on hold since the outbreak of COVID- 19. While this is an HIV/AIDS awareness art exhibition through the use of the various visual art media available, the ministry has broadened it to cover other social ills such as Gender-Based Violence, Drug and Substance Abuse and COVID-19.

The ministry has thus far issued a call to local creatives for the submission of artworks and garments which would form part of this exhibition.

Through the exhibition, local artists are given a platform to effectively communicate messages on HIV/AIDS and other social ills through visual representation.

According to a statement from the ministry, it decided to continue the exhibition this year following the easing of COVID-19 protocols which has since opened up for public gatherings. “In the year 2022, the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture (MYSC) shall enlarge the scope of the exhibition to include other social ills threatening the socio-economic development of the country,” said Warona Tlamelo, the ministry’s Public Relations Officer.

This year, the exhibition is held under the theme, “Art as a tool to unpack social ills: HIV/ AIDS, Gender-Based Violence, Drug and Substance Abuse and COVID-19.

The exhibition has been hosted since 2001 and it highlights the critical contribution made by local visual artists in combating the scourge of HIV/AIDS in the country. It is also meant to accord artists a platform to showcase their creativity and talent, spread messages of HIV & AIDS, GBV, drug and substance abuse and COVID-19 through art as well as give artists an opportunity to unite to fight social ills that have engulfed the country.

Artists are expected to be creative in the production of and submit two artworks in the categories of; artifacts and garments.

The artworks should have reached the National Art Gallery in Gaborone by November 30, 2022. Winners will walk away with P10,000 for first prize, P8,000 and P6,000 for second and third prizes respectively.