Tulipamwe’s ideal is to encourage artistic and creative growth in professional and emerging artists through creating opportunities for them by sharing ideas. After all, Tulipamwe means “we are together”!

As an outreach project, Tulipamwe reaches out to three main groups of beneficiaries – Namibian artists – who tend to feel isolated; international artists – who are given a chance to expand their creative boundaries through new experiences; and disadvantaged rural communities – who find in Tulipamwe an opportunity to put initiatives into practice, thereby contributing to their own development and welfare.

During the Tulipamwe Working Group’s visit to Okakarara in March 2009, the local community brought together representatives from the Regional and local government as well as NGO’s to the meeting, all expressing their enthusiasm in hosting the project. The potential benefits were welcomed and the community rallied to make it happen.

For this year’s workshop there were 67 applications, from which a group of 23 participants was selected - representing a balance of experience, demographics, gender and media specialisation. Many excellent applications had to be turned down mainly because of logistic reasons. However the internal dynamics of the final group were very conducive to interaction and exchange, with some participants forging strong new friendships that one cannot help but to feel will last forever! Every participant brought with him/her a wealth of cultural experience to add to the diversity.

Most participants of Tulipamwe 2009 will not easily forget the experience of staying in a traditional Herero hut, sleeping on the floor and enjoying the culinary delights of Herero land! During August 2009 Namibia experienced harsh temperatures – bitter cold at night and intense heat during the day. Artists gathered around a huge camp fire every evening to warm themselves and to share creative ideas. They also inspired each other with regular slide shows and power point presentations. Sharing the cold, the heat, gathering around for meals and helping each other in the workspace fostered a healthy group dynamic which fired up lively debates and quirky humour.

Apart from endeavouring to provide basic materials, equipment and workspace, Tulipamwe encourages improvisation and experimentation with found materials. Recycling of found materials was especially noteworthy in the explorations of Nicky, Josia, Arnaud, Andries and Lutanda. Participants have also been inspired by the rich cultural and historical presence surrounding them. Okakarara is situated in the vicinity of the Hamakari plains where a decisive battle was fought during the colonial war early in the 20th Century. This reality has been explored in the work of Maria Buchner and Mustapha. It has also been especially noteworthy to witness the way that the local culture and was explored as theme in the work of Arnaud, Lionel, Eria, Leslie, Mikko and Gretta. Rebecca, Thom, Kim and Resta responded in their work to their experience of the immediate workshop environment, developing strong personal statements in a variety of media and disciplines. Mikko’s exploration of his iPhone as a “painting” medium let to a series of colourful “stitchings” covering a wide variety of aspects of the cultural environment. Leslie’s site-specific enhancement of the interior of a traditional hut was left as a permanent installation, but was meticulously recorded and “reproduced” on canvas for the exhibition in Windhoek.

Tulipamwe is especially grateful to its sponsors and partners whose generosity has made this successful project possible. A special word of thanks to Triangle Arts Trust, Kuona Trust, Hivos, Swiss Arts Council and Pro Helvetia, Goethe-Zentrum/NaDS, The Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre, Standard Bank Namibia, The University of Namibia, p.art.ners Berlin-Windhoek, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland, Willamette Univeristy, Lilly Incorporated, the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sports and Culture.