Artists association calls for art gallery, support

By MALINDA KALE
LOCAL artists have formed an association and are calling on the Government and responsible authorities for an art gallery.
Tumbuna Visual Arts Association public relations officer Mick Kage said there was no permanent place for artists to exhibit and sell their paintings.
Over the last 50 years, they had been selling on city streets near the Holiday Inn Hotel, Tabari Place at Boroko and the street opposite Gateway Hotel at 7-Mile. Kage said during the 50th Anniversary Art Exhibition in Port Moresby that they were given a space at the new City Hall to showcase their work.
This provided them a sense of belonging and that they did not want to be moved back to the streets.
Kage said it was an avenue for generating revenue and should be recognised.
During the exhibition, many paintings were bought by locals and tourists. In August last year, the association sold some paintings during an art exhibition in Australia and brought K60,000 back to the country, Kage said.
“We are many and the Government cannot support us individually, for that reason we have formed Tumbuna Visual Arts Association for the government to recognise us,”he said.
“Since we are now at City Hall, we do not want to go back to the streets. The Government and authorities such as the Tourism Promotion Authority should provide a place for us.
“We have had enough of the streets.”
Kage said they were having talks with the National Capital District (NCD) to use the space they were given until a permanent place to exhibit their work was found.
He thanked the National Cultural Commission for recognising their association last year and NCD Governor Powes Parkop for the space at the city hall that allowed more than 80 artists to exhibit their work.