October 7, 2012
Uganda’s first Contemporary Art Festival takes to the streets of Kampala. KLA ART 012 will open on the 7th of October and continue at twelve central locations until the 14th of October 2012. The bi-annual event is a unique collaboration between eight arts organisations in Kampala. The title ’12 Boxes moving’ refers to a dozen 20ft shipping containers that will be transformed by artists during the festival. These structures, common to the city's landscape and often used as shops, storage and shelter, will become individual exhibition spaces to showcase the exciting work of Uganda’s visual artists. The 12 festival artists are: Bwambale Ivan Allan, Emma Wolukau-Wanambwa, Eria Nsubuga ‘Sane’, Eric Mukalazi, Lillian Mary Nabulime, Ronex, Ruganzu Bruno, Sanaa Gateja, Stella Atal, Sue Crozier Thorburn, Waswad and Xenson.
Across the city, the public is invited to visit the containers which will be placed in significant public spaces including the Independence Monument, Railway Station and the Industrial area. They will also be located near the venues of the eight hosting arts organisations: 32° East | Ugandan Arts Trust, Afriart Gallery, AKA Gallery, Alliance Française Kampala, Goethe-Zentrum Kampala, Makerere Art Gallery, Nommo Gallery and Uganda Museum.
“The festival is going to be a momentous occasion in the history of Ugandan visual arts since the creation of the Independence Monument” said Chair of the KLA ART 012 committee, Dr. Namubiru Kirumira Rose.
To compliment the exhibitions, the Festival will be running a public participation programme to encourage new audiences. These will take place around the city and will include film screenings at The Hub, Mishmash, Tilapia and Amakula. The public is also invited to participate in artist talks, workshops and discussions at the art venues.