TARA was established to record and create awareness of the rich Rock Art heritage of the African continent, to making this information widely accessible, and to work to safeguard those sites that are most threatened by humans and nature. The Trust also strives to create greater global awareness of the importance and endangered state of African Rock Art, while simultaneously undertaking expeditions to survey and monitor Rock Art sites. It in addition it acts as an information resource and archive to provide information to Rock Art experts and enthusiasts in Africa and internationally.

It is the world’s only organisation dedicated to this cultural imperative and its work has never been more needed. Ancient Rock Art faces serious threats to its continued existence. It is for example threatened by vandalism, including by having graffiti sprayed directly over the art and, in other cases, by its wholesale removal from the rock face on which it was created using rock saws and pickaxes. Expansion of urban areas and of farmlands into Rock Art areas, as well as development projects, also leads to the destruction of ancient sites. In many African countries, local people do not know the unique value of these works. This leads to them being at risk of loss due to destruction and neglect.

We were brought on board to raise awareness of the initiative, secure the support of key stakeholders and to help generate funding for its programmes in the field. The initial focus was TARA’s existing donor base. The charity’s fundraising system’s was streamlined, new databases introduced and an outreach programme launched. In addition, working side-by-side with the leadership team, a new Strategic Plan was mapped out and the steps undertaken to expand the charity from its previous United States-registered identity into the United Kingdom. Fresh marketing materials were produced and a new rigorous process implemented for the identification of grant-securing opportunities.

A programme was also put in place to raise awareness of Rock Art by working with a Nairobi based contemporary art organisation. Under this, a selection of the leading contemporary artists working today in East Africa visit some of the most iconic Rock Art sites in the region. Their resulting work forms the basis of an exhibition in Nairobi, with prints of them sold to raise funds for TARA’s work. Discussion is already underway for how the resulting exhibition can be taken to galleries internationally, thereby further raising awareness of Rock Art and TARA around the world.

More about TARA can be found at www.africanrockart.org