In light of the impact of
COVID-19, Bank Windhoek, in collaboration with the National Art Gallery of
Namibia (NAGN), has decided to shift the Triennial dates. As a result, the new
deadline for artists to submit their artwork is Friday, 6 November 2020, at 16:00.
The judging of the artworks will take place in early February 2021, while the
official opening of the Bank Windhoek Triennial is in April 2021, with the
Award Ceremony taking place on Thursday, 8 April 2021. The duration of the exhibition
will start on Friday, 9 April 2021 until Saturday, 03 July 2021.
The highly competitive art
exhibition, which is open to all artists with Namibian citizenship, domicile,
or permanent residence, joins the list of other significant events postponed due
to COVID-19. “The pandemic has severely affected the visual arts industry.
Thus, prompting the decision to allow visual artists more time to work on their
submissions for the Bank Windhoek Triennial, to ensure they submit quality
artwork," said Bank Windhoek’s Head of
Corporate Social Investments, Sponsorship, and Events, Bronwyn Moody.
Staged every three years,
the Bank Windhoek Triennial showcases the quality and diversity of artwork
produced by Namibian artists. The first Bank Windhoek Triennial took place in
2008, with three more since then in 2011, 2014 and 2017, bringing it to its
fifth edition scheduled to take place in April next year.
“Despite this setback, we
are looking forward to innovative works of art, and therefore encourage all
artists who meet the qualifying criteria to enter the competition. This
opportunity not only allows artists to win prizes but also acts as an important
platform for networking and adds to the artist's profile. We are confident that
artists will transform their COVID-19 experience into captivating masterpieces
come next year,” said NAGN’s Chief Executive Officer, Snobia Kaputu.
Kaputu added that all
updated marketing material for the Bank Windhoek Triennial would be made
available in due course. "In the meantime, we encourage all our potential
participants to continue with their creative practice, adhere to social
distancing measures and regulations as set out by the Namibian
Government," she said. “We encourage all artists to consult with us
regarding challenges that they might experience producing artwork during this
challenging time.”
Sponsored by Bank Windhoek
and organised by the NAGN, the Triennial aims to celebrate visual art in
Namibia, while providing a continued platform for the development and promotion
of the Namibian visual art industry. The exhibition that results from this
competition also provides an opportunity to engage in dialogue around
socio-cultural and economic diversity within the Namibian society.
Further information is
available from the NAGN's Curatorial or Communication and Marketing Department
at Tel: +264 61 231 160, +264 61 231 391, or +264 81 806 8692 / +264 81 806 8694, or send an email to ccurator@nagn.org.na / curator@nagn.org.na or pro@nagn.org.na.
