By Yunus S Saliu
Winners of the Art Bantaba 2020 competition organized by the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in partnership with Daughter of Africa Foundation (DOAF) were Thursday awarded.
The award ceremony took place at the National Museum garden in Independence Drive, Banjul.
The Gambia Portrait Competition known as Art Bantaba Competition 2020 was launched November 11 2020 through the medium of painting and drawing with a unique opportunity for artists to participate as it was opened to established artists in The Gambia.
Laid down criteria for submission of individual work requested the work to be canvas size up to 72cm, and executed in paintings and drawings only.
However, 50 entries received before the closing date – 29th January 2021, while other 24 entries recorded later after the deadline.
In the final screening and assessment, Ebrima Gitteh emerged overall winner and went with cash prize of D19,000, Fabakary Jaiteh become first runner-up to grab the cash prize of D11,200 while Malick Touray took third position and went home with cash prize of D6,700.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Hassoum Ceesay, Director General of NCAC expressed delight on the wonderful display of Gambian artistic talent.
He explained that for the past five months the center has worked had with the Daughters of Africa to bring this to fruition.
He noted that through this contest, NCAC has been able to harness and hope to nurture the raw fine arts talent in this country, noting that the realist painting displayed by the contestant has shown that Gambian youth have great and promising talent in the fine arts.
The director general disclosed that intention of NCAC is to ensure that fine art is not left behind in any development in the arts and culture sector. “Simply because we believe that fine arts is like music, literature, theatre, drama, comedy and others that have great potentials to empower youths, women, and create jobs and livelihood for our citizens,” he added
He as well reflected on the Centre’s past collaboration with the Visual Arts Association to involved dozens of young Gambian aspiring and accomplished artists to participate in revitalize the Visual Arts Association of The Gambia, one of 8 artistic associations recognized in Gambian law.
“NCAC will continue to work with VAAG and individual artists to promote and support the sector through hosting of exhibitions at the museum spaces we have and also organize capacity building and mentorship activities to strengthen the fine arts sector,” he assured them.
On final note, he commended their partners Daughters of Africa for their steadfast support to NCAC and Gambian artists.
In his remark, Mr Mamat Sallah, Assistant Director Museum and Monuments – NCAC commended the Daughters of African Foundation for partnering with the National Centre for Arts and Culture and as well applauded participants for having the courage to submit works for the competition.
In brief, he gave breakdown of some activities of DOAF with the NCAC, this he said included digitization process at the National Museum, designs layout in the museum and rearrangement, photography skills training for museum staff, 15 Ode of Art documentary video work on Gambian artists and among other collaborations.
