A new residency program spearheaded by ART27 founder Ferenc Donderer, known locally as Mr Ferry, is injecting fresh energy into the West African art scene.
Just two months in, the initiative has already welcomed four artists – Edrisa Jobe, David Hosie, Anna Isatou Bah, and Moulaye Sarr – each tasked with producing twelve large‑scale works.
The BIG & BOLD Touring Exhibition is scheduled to launch in October 2026 and run through March 2027, coinciding with the high season. This unprecedented visual art showcase will tour for six months across diverse venues including galleries, hotels, beach resorts, institutional buildings, and the upcoming ART27 Museum for Visual Arts.
The ART27 Residency provides substantial financial backing, with each artist receiving D120,000 in funding. Emerging artist Anna Isatou Bah, described by Donderer as “Gambia’s young female shooting star”, receives D60,000 to support her growth within the program. “It’s a lot of money for her too, but I wanted to bring her with us in the boat. She is working very hard on it,” Donderer explained. The total investment of D420,000 comes directly from Donderer’s personal funding.
Uniform in size – 100 by 140 centimeters – the works will create a striking BIG & BOLD visual identity for the exhibition. Planned as a six‑month tour across cultural institutions, the show is expected to highlight the diversity and strength of contemporary West African art.
Donderer’s private collection of more than 140 paintings forms the backbone of the project, alongside secured real estate for a future museum and gallery space. “The project is nearly done,” he said. “I only need to secure the following three years, so we can work with peace in mind and bring it to a financially stable project. Art has to be seen and artists need our support!”
The planned museum is not about financial profit, but about giving Gambian artists a safe haven – a home to exhibit their visual arts widely to the public and to visitors of The Gambia. “It will provide understanding and guidance for visual arts by opening the doors to families, schools, students, and future young artists. I am happy if we break even after the first three years and everything pays for itself,” Donderer added.
Preparations are on track, with discussions underway with cultural institutions, including the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) Director of Fine and Performing Arts, Mr Sanna Jarju. Proposals will be presented to ministries and established organizations in The Gambia this month of June.
“To make it very clear, I am not begging for money,” Donderer emphasised. “It is an exclusive invitation to be part of something great and already alive. More important than profit is giving our artists a constant exhibition place where visitors, schools, and young artists can find inspiration and guidance.”
