Art project shows positive contribution by mining

‘Mining to Make a Difference’ is an art project organized by the National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN) in collaboration with new gold miner, B2Gold Namibia. The project launched this Friday, 3 October at the National Art Gallery. The project will be hosted at the B2Gold Education Centre on the mine’s property in the Otjiwarongo district.
Explaining the collaborative art project, the National Art Gallery said this week B2Gold Namibia considers responsible corporate citizenship as a key component to maintaining a strong reputation within the communities within which it operates. The vision of the company is not only about being a profitable mining company – it is also about being a company that makes a meaningful difference, leaving a legacy to be proud of even after mine operations have ceased.
“Construction of the Otjikoto Mine will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014; the Otjikoto gold mine will have its first full year of production in 2015. Despite this timeline, B2Gold has already spent N$3.4 million on Corporate Social Investment projects in 2013, and has a budget of N$4 million for 2014.

“In addition to this, B2Gold Namibia is the owner of five commercial farms, measuring approximately 16,000 ha inside which the Otjikoto mine project is located. A portion of the land not used in mining activities has been turned into a conservation area and education centre – a project which rests on the pillars of Science, Education and Conservation. It is B2Gold’s aim to clearly demonstrate to the government of Namibia and all stakeholders that a well-run mining operation can be a positive catalyst in all these focus areas.
The National Art Gallery said B2Gold sees the “Mining to Make a Difference” project as an opportunity for Namibian artists – a group that doesn’t always receive the publicity and exposure it deserves – to showcase their work to a wide audience. The B2Gold Education Centre would give them, on the one hand, the space and opportunity to put Namibian art at centre stage, and, on the other, expose Namibian children to Namibian creativity and nurture an appreciation for fine art as part of the educational experience. Another benefit would be that Namibian art (and artists) would be introduced to an international audience, since the Educational Centre will be frequented by international visitors – especially investors and executives from North America.