Tanzania

^{Posted on Monday, 5th November,2007}

The East Africa Art Biennale – EASTAFAB 2007 : Press release

^{Background :}

^{The first « East Africa Art Biennale » took place in Dar-es-Salaam, from December 2 to 22, 2003, and showed the artworks of more than one hundred artists from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, but also included the participation of international guest artists from Belgium, Denmark, Finland, India, Spain, The Netherlands, U.K., and U.S.A. The second edition of the “East Africa Art Biennale” was held in Dar-es-Salaam, from November 2 to 22, 2005, and confirmed the growing success of the biennale by providing better displaying and documenting of the artworks of another hundred contemporary artists from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, but that included as well participants from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Ghana, Israel, Italy, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, The Netherlands, U.K. and U.SA.}

^{For the official opening of the “East Africa Art Biennale- EASTAFAB 2007” on November 2nd, 2007, a selection of guests from the government, diplomatic, media and private sectors will be invited at the National Museum of Dar-es-Salaam.}

^{The biennale will be open to the public from November  the 3rd to 22nd, 2007.}

^{To properly exhibit the great number of artworks received, the Biennale is using five venues in Dar-es-Salaam, running simultaneously: the National Museum, the Russian-Tanzanian Cultural Centre, the Alliance Francaise, the Movenpick Hotel and “La Petite Galerie” (Oysterbay).}

^{The East Africa Art Biennale - EASTAFAB 2007 is the biggest art exhibition in Central and Eastern Africa; it will show the works of 105 visual artists from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, together with the works of artists from Belgium, Burkina Faso, Congo (Brazza), Congo (DRC), Cuba, Denmark, France, Ghana, Italy, Mauritius, Nigeria, Norway, Spain, UK USA, ,}

^{Each artist was allowed to submit to the Organising Committee a minimum of two artworks and a maximum of five.}

^{The event was very well attended on the opening day, gathering at the National Museum an estimated four hundred guests from the official, private, media and art sectors. All along the duration of the Biennale, the general public attendance was significant and regular.}

^{Private schools organised visits to the National Museum and other venues on their own initiative, and EASTAFAB provided transport to six secondary public schools to the Museum and offered these alumni a “One Day at the National Museum” visit, including guided tour of the Biennale and receiving a refreshment.}

^{Both in 2003 and 2005, EASTAFAB published a hard cover full-colour 200-page catalogue, presenting substantial information about the East African art and artists, with a considerable number of illustrations.}

^{Introduction :}

^{The East Africa Art Biennale Association is now preparing the third edition of the East Africa Art Biennale: “EASTAFAB 2007”.}

^{The format of EASTAFAB 2007 will basically respond to our main objective, that is to promote the East Africa Contemporary Art in all its forms, styles and media of expression.} 

^{Accordingly, the East Africa Art Biennale will accept submissions to exhibit paintings, sculptures, print works, conceptual and contextual works and installations, video and textile art, photographies, …}

^{Conferences, workshops and meetings of artists and art stakeholders will also be organised all along the biennale to animate the cultural life and public interaction at the venues and other selected Dar-es-Salaam locations.}

^{A new catalogue will be also published on the occasion of EASTAFAB 2007.}

^{Organisational Information:}

^{The EAST AFrica Art Biennale is shortened as EASTAFAB, and the word Biennale is used in French on purpose as it has been commonly used to designate an important  and international cultural event taking place every two years.}

^{The objective of the EASTAFAB is to promote the fine arts of East Africa by organising every two years in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, a grand exhibition of selected artworks of the best artists from East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda,…).}

^{The EASTAFAB is organised and ruled by the sole Organising Committee, based and registered at the National Council of Arts (Basata) of Tanzania.}

^{The Organising Committee has established sub-committees (or antennas) in the countries other than Tanzania, with the purpose of acting as an intermediate between the Organising Committee and the local artists and organisations.}

^{Every individual artist or group of artists from East Africa can participate to the EASTAFAB, whether still living in the region or having migrated abroad and there is no participation fee to be paid. Private collectors, galleries and museums can also participate with artworks of artists of the East Africa region.}

^{The EASTAFAB will also include an international exhibition space for African artists from regions other than East Africa as well as for foreign artists residing in East Africa or foreign artists whose productions are related to East Africa.}

^{The artworks exhibited can be put on sale or not, depending on the participant’s expressed intention, but in the event of sale a 20% sales tax (VAT) will be applied as required by law in Tanzania. All styles and media of expression of Contemporary Art can be presented: paintings, metal or wood sculptures, photography, installations, textile or video art, etc…}

^{Each participant, whether an individual artist, group of artists, gallery or museum, will have to fill a participation form providing all necessary information in English or/and in Kiswahili about the artist(s) and the artworks proposed to EASTAFAB, and send it by normal post, e-mail or fax not later than June 30, 2007.}

^{The selection of artworks for any given artist will receive the final approval from the EASTAFAB Organising Committee not later than July 31, 2007.}

^{The participant will have to provide EASTAFAB with professional quality slide or/and photographs with a copyright release to accompany the artworks once approved and not later than August 31, 2007, in view to be eventually included in the EASTAFAB catalogue.}

^{It is the decision of the Organising Committee to assess which artworks are suitable for the Catalogue, and this within the space made available.}

^{The approved artworks can be sent by the participant directly to the EASTAFAB address but they must reach the EASTAFAB storage facility in Dar-es-Salaam not later than September 30, 2007.}

^{Alternatively, the approved artworks can be brought to the local sub-committee (antenna) in Kampala, Uganda and in Nairobi, Kenya, not later than August 31, 2007; the local sub-committee will then forward to the EASTAFAB address but they must reach the EASTAFAB storage facility in Dar-es-Salaam not later than September 30, 2007. Any artwork received beyond this date will be refused.}

^{At the end of the EASTAFAB exhibition, the unsold artworks will be returned to the artists by the Organising Committee in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, or returned to the sub-committees in Kampala, Uganda and Nairobi, Kenya, for their final restitution to the local artists.}

^{The proceedings from the sale of artworks after deduction of a 10% commission to the biennale, will be paid to the artists by the Organising Committee in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, or forwarded to the sub-committees in Kampala, Uganda and Nairobi, Kenya, accordingly.}

^{The EASTAFAB Organising Committee will consider the possibility of attributing honorary prizes under the following categories: EASTAFAB 2007 First, Second and Third Prizes, EASTAFAB 2007 Public Choice, EASTAFAB 2007 Media Choice, …}

^{For a list of participants, please click here}

^Calendar:

^{Before June 30, 2007:                                                                        Application form received}

^{Before July 31, 2007:                                                                         Artworks approval}

^{Before August 31, 2007:                                                                     Artworks at Kenya and Uganda antennas}

^{Before August 31, 2007:                                                                     EASTAFAB Catalogue}

^{Before September 30, 2007:                                                                All artworks in Dar-es-Salaam}

^{October 27, 2007:                                                                               Press conference}

^{November 2, 2007:                                                                             EASTAFAB opening day}

^{November 22, 2007:                                                                           EASTAFAB closing day}

^{EASTAFAB Application Form}

^{List of EASTAFAB Partners (directly involved in the organisation)}

^{Fine Arts Department, University of Dar-es-Salaam, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania}

^{National Museum of Dar-es-Salaam, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania}

^{“La Petite Galerie” at the Oysterbay Hotel Shopping Complex, Oysterbay, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania}

^{The Russian-Tanzanian Cultural Centre, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania}

^{The French Cultural Centre – Alliance Française of Dar-es-Salaam}

^{The Goethe Institute, Nairobi, Kenya}

^{Tulifanya Art Gallery, Kampala, Uganda}

^{Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art – RAMOMA, Nairobi, Kenya}

^{List of EASTAFAB  potential sponsors (contributing in services or/and kind):}

^{Communication company (Celtel)}

^{Insurance company (AON Insurance Brokers, …?)}

^{Beverage company (TBL, Serengeti Beer, …?)}

^{Bank (Standard Chartered)}

^{Security company (Ultimate Security)}

^{Printing/publishing company (Tanzania Printers)}

^{Parastatal (NSSF, …?)}

^{Hotel / casino (Mövenpick Hotel)}

^{Airline company (Swissair)}

^{Automobile dealer (Toyota)}

^{International movers (Worldwide Movers)}

^{Building company (Noremco, Konoike, Cowi, , …?)}

^{Media (East Africa Radio & East Africa TV-CH 5, …?)}

^{Others (TCC, DHL, Coca-Cola, …?)}

^{List of EASTAFAB former donors (making donations in funds) and potential (?) new donors:}

^{Foreign Embassies in Dar-es-Salaam (Germany, European Union Delegation, Belgium, France, Denmark, The Netherlands)}

^{Hivos (Holland)}

^{Mfuko wa Utamaduni (Tanzania Culture Trust Fund)}

^{The Tanzania Gatsby Trust (Tanzania/UK)}

^{Association Française d’Action Artistique – AFAA (France, Paris)?}

^{Ford Foundation (Kenya)?}

^{Prince Claus Foundation (Holland)?}

^{Centre of Culture Collaboration with Development Countries (Copenhagen, Denmark)?}

^{Stichting Doen (The Netherlands)?}

^{Africalia (Belgium)?}

^Others…?

^{To comment on this article, click here}