Artist Retreat in Rural Senegal

Saliou Diop’s artist retreat lies on the rooftop of a humble building in the heart of Tambacounda. After an accident that severely hindered his sight over ten years ago, he continues to make art and encourages the community to do the same. He has been a friend of Le Korsa for many years now and is actively involved in the community. He hosts workshops for the youth in the area and has completed an artist-in residence program at Thread, the artists' residency and cultural center operated in Sinthian by Le Korsa and the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. Through Bankuba Art, a collective of musicians and visual artists, Saliou inspires young people in the town to express themselves through the arts, as an alternative to making the dangerous trek to Europe.

Saliou Diop has recently acquired two tents from an old gold mine. He has long since had the dream of running his own artist retreat or residency. He is currently seeking funding, with the help of Le Korsa, to recanvas the tents, build a bathroom and furnish the rooms. The rooftop space is shown here and will be used to host artists, students and tourists for short trips.

Saliou Diop is proud of his town and is passionate about showcasing what Tambacounda has to offer. We would like to support him in making his dream of having a residency come to life! If you would like to be a part of this story, please donate here and know that no cent will be wasted.