After its success in Maputo, Absa Bank Mozambique's Ready for Art program has now reached the cities of Beira and Nampula, in the center and north of the country.

Through the inauguration of two exhibitions at Premier branches in the two cities, the bank reaffirmed its commitment to the arts and culture in Mozambique.

These include the launch of Layers of Self by Mohssina Ganesh in Beira and Gritos e Reencontros by António Guimarães in Nampula.

In Layers of Self, Mohssina Ganesh shows the beauty and complexity of life, and the importance of self-expression in the human experience. This is the artist's first exhibition, and she draws inspiration from the mosaic of human expressions that transform the nuances of emotions into visual language.

In Nampula, in "Gritos e Reencontros", António Guimarães promotes a reflection between social and cultural problems, proposing social changes in an engaging narrative where oil painting and capulana collage were the techniques used to produce the works.

This is the first time that the concept of art exhibitions at the bank's branches has reached the Center and North, having started in Maputo, with exhibitions at the Premier Branch, located on one of the capital's most emblematic avenues.

For Managing Director Pedro Carvalho, the opening of these exhibitions reinforces the Bank's efforts to grow and develop artists throughout the country.

"It's a great joy for Absa to be able to make the desire to impact artists in other corners of the country a reality. We started in Maputo, and now Ready For Art is a reality in the center and north of the country. Culture is people, it's the hallmarks of our identity, it's our way of life and that's why it should be accessible to everyone.

That's why Absa's positioning in relation to the arts goes hand in hand with a strong business presence. We want to grow in a sustainable way, generating opportunities for the country's main development areas and value chains," he said.

In the view of young artist Mohssina Ganesh, Ready For Art is undoubtedly an opportunity that has had a positive effect on artists' careers.

"I'm extremely happy and grateful to have been chosen among other artists to be part of this initiative through which I held my first exhibition.

I've learned valuable skills, connected with other inspiring artists and gained the confidence to continue exploring my creative expression. Being part of this project is a unique experience which, in addition to collective collaboration, is helping to strengthen the production and consumption of Mozambican art."

In the opinion of the artist António Guimarães, exhibiting in this "showcase" opens up the possibility of having a more significant reach for his work.

"Absa has created the reunions that I'm presenting in the exhibition, giving me the opportunity for training and to expose the depths of my thinking about our culture. I'm happy to see that artists in Nampula have another space to exhibit their work, and it's an incredible chance for those who are already navigating these waters or those who are just starting out. I humbly thank you for this incredible moment. Thank you very much, Absa."

The launch of the exhibitions was accompanied by the presence of local authorities, Banco de Moçambique, clients and other partners of the bank, as well as local dignitaries.

"We appreciate the initiative to train artists to make their art more sustainable. It is a testament to the institutional commitment to celebrating the diversity of talents and perspectives, exhibiting national works and creating spaces that invite contemplation and reflection," said the Secretary of State in Sofala Province, Cecília Chamutota.

Ready For Art is a project launched in December 2023 with the aim of boosting the growth and development of artists through a series of actions that promote the interpersonal, financial and business development of all participants.

Over the course of a week, with a personalized and customized approach, the Bank trained more than 30 artists from all over the country. 16 artists were selected who will have the opportunity to exhibit their work for a period of 3 months each at Premier branches in Maputo, Beira and Nampula.

The project's curator is Mateus Sithole, a Mozambican artist who has a growth trajectory that many of the artists can see. He has already exhibited in Premie's windows.