Banana Club Artist Fund (BCAF) is excited to unveil its third annual residency program, in partnership with Diamond Trading Company (DTC) Botswana. This transformative initiative aims to empower emerging creative entrepreneurs from underserved communities through mentorship, financial aid, and curatorial support to create new work, challenging societal stereotypes and fostering creative agency.
Themed “The Audacity of Queer Joy,” the 2024 iteration of BCAF invites visual artists across various disciplines to imagine work that celebrates abundance and challenges the notion of needing salvation to live, survive, and breathe authentically.
Tanlume Enyatseng, Founder and Creative Director of Banana Club, expressed enthusiasm for this year’s residency, stating, “The 2024 residency welcomes Visual Artists from underserved communities across Botswana. We strongly encourage submissions from lesbian, bisexual, and queer women, including cisgender, trans, and intersex individuals, as well as non-binary people. Open to LGBTQIA+ visual artists specializing in various disciplines, the program aims to increase visibility and resources, change mindsets, build networks, and narrow existing gaps.”
The Open Call for the 2024 Banana Club Artist Fund will run from April 5th till May 5th 2024, with the residency commencing in July and concluding in September 2024 with an artist exhibition. This comprehensive program offers mentorship, curatorial assistance, a production budget, travel stipend, and exhibition support, ensuring holistic support for the artist’s creative development.
As a sponsor, DTC Botswana will provide crucial support for the artists’ needs, including financial aid towards art supplies, workspace, a three-month stipend, and the production of work culminating in the September exhibition.
“We are thrilled to join forces with the Banana Club and uncover the true gems of Botswana’s creative industries,” says Prudence Mabua, Senior Manager – Technical Services for DTC Botswana and Real You Sponsor. “Through this partnership, we aim to provide a platform for visual artists in Botswana to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse narrative within the global art community. This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to support Botswana’s LGBTQIA+ Community, and to continue to inspire and promote creativity and inclusivity within our society.”
Previous BCAF awardees include fashion designer Troy Gabolwelwe of Versa La Troy and Thabang Makuke, aka Yorokee, who utilized the opportunity to produce his debut EP titled “Entropy,” now streaming on all platforms.
The 2024 program will feature an Artist Talk & Workshop, the Artist Exhibition, and a short video documenting the artist’s residency journey. The entire program, from selection to exhibition, will be curated and produced by multi-disciplinary creative consultancy Banana Emoji Studio.
Enyatseng concluded, “We are excited to embark on this journey of artistic exploration and community building with the support of DTC Botswana. Together, we aim to amplify the voices of marginalized artists and create a more inclusive and vibrant art landscape in Botswana and within the global art community”
