Gulu artists get free space to showcase their works
GULU-Loremi Tours and Elephante Commons, a charity organisation, have partnered to provide space for local artists in Gulu City to display their artistic works
Since 2020, nearly 300 local artists in Gulu have been able to showcase their works and reached a wider audience through themed exhibitions, but many of them don’t have their own shops to display the handicrafts.
Adyero Gloria Barbara, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Loremi Tours, says through the partnership that started this year, artists are now able to use space provided at Elephante Commons free of charge to display their handicrafts.
“Most local artisans don’t have proper galleries to exhibit their work and are therefore unable to reach the market. Most times artists such as pot makers get low pay for their products or are told to wait before they are paid but exhibitions provide a ready market for products,” she said.
According to Adyero, their goal is to integrate tourism as a sustainable means of livelihood by focusing on protecting both natural and cultural resources in northern Uganda.
“Part of our work is to identify little-known attractions in the region and add value to them so that they can benefit the community. When local communities are directly benefiting from a tourist attraction, they are able to protect it,” she said.
Adyero adds that, “People’s perception of tourism is visiting the national parks but beyond that, there are different attractions which we are now identifying for promotion. The most popular one in the region right now is Aruu Falls in Pader district. There was a time when people did not know about the falls.”
She noted that tourists traveling to Kidepo National Park in Kotido district and Murchison Falls National Park rarely stop over in Gulu because there are not many tourist activities taking place there.
“We hope to collaborate with tour companies from Kampala because we already have experiences outside of the National park that tour operators can take advantage of as they handle tourists. We hope to make the Gulu Art Exhibition one of those experiences tourists will be willing to come and see.”
Brenda Atimango Ruth, a painter and crafts maker who currently has no personal shop said the exhibitions have given her exposure and an opportunity to meet potential clients and fellow artists.
“I have been able to sell some of my work while some people took my contacts and promised to give me business,” she said.
Atimango said local people are unable to afford their crafts, leaving foreigners as reliable clients.
The art exhibitions which usually start at 4:00pm to 8:00pm have attracted over 800 people and there are plans to have them take place for a whole day.
Gladys Orombi, the Director of Operations at Elephante Commons says they aim to provide space to local leaders, entrepreneurs, and community-based organisations so that they are able to help the communities they live and work in.
“We believe that it’s local people who can help their people better because they are the ones who know the problems they are facing,” Orombi said.
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