Empowering the Sahel's youth through art.

Centre Makoro in Mali is the perfect place to explore the vibrant art scene of Mali. Their knowledgeable staff and friendly atmosphere make it a great place to appreciate the culture of Mali. Highly recommended!

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The residency at CENTRE MAKÔRÔ will give me the time, space and support I need to find my voice as an artist. With guidance from master artists, I expect to be able to experiment, take risks and create new, transformatice work. The connections I will make and opportunity to exhibit will certainly lead to new grounds.

- Gadiaba Kodio, Visual Artist, Dakar (Sénégal)

The CENTRE MAKÔRÔ's youth art programs have transformed my children. In just a few short sessions, they have blossomed into confident, imaginative artists bursting with passion and vision. The teachers have nurtured their creativity and talent, empowering them to push beyond limits into uncharted possibilities. But most important are the life-changing friendships and connections they have found there.

Michèle T., Mom and Entrepreneur, Bamako (Mali)

The residency at CENTRE MAKÔRÔ will give me the time, space and support I need to find my voice as an artist. With guidance from master artists, I expect to be able to experiment, take risks and create new, transformatice work. The connections I will make and opportunity to exhibit will certainly lead to new grounds.

- Gadiaba Kodio, Visual Artist, Dakar (Sénégal)

The CENTRE MAKÔRÔ's youth art programs have transformed my children. In just a few short sessions, they have blossomed into confident, imaginative artists bursting with passion and vision. The teachers have nurtured their creativity and talent, empowering them to push beyond limits into uncharted possibilities. But most important are the life-changing friendships and connections they have found there.

Michèle T., Mom and Entrepreneur, Bamako (Mali)

The residency at CENTRE MAKÔRÔ will give me the time, space and support I need to find my voice as an artist. With guidance from master artists, I expect to be able to experiment, take risks and create new, transformatice work. The connections I will make and opportunity to exhibit will certainly lead to new grounds.

- Gadiaba Kodio, Visual Artist, Dakar (Sénégal)

The CENTRE MAKÔRÔ's youth art programs have transformed my children. In just a few short sessions, they have blossomed into confident, imaginative artists bursting with passion and vision. The teachers have nurtured their creativity and talent, empowering them to push beyond limits into uncharted possibilities. But most important are the life-changing friendships and connections they have found there.

Michèle T., Mom and Entrepreneur, Bamako (Mali)

Contact us

Thank you for your interest in the CENTRE MAKÔRÔ. We would love to hear from you - whether you want to donate, volunteer, sponsor programs or events, or just learn more about our work in cultivating creativity in Mali's youth.

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About us

The CENTRE MAKÔRÔ builds on Amadou Sanogo's legacy of mentoring young artists through Atelier Badialan. Our two-story, 590 sq meter facility in Bamako's Sokonafing district includes artist studios and living quarters, gallery space, classrooms and an event venue.

Scheduled to open in late 2023, the CENTRE MAKÔRÔ offers 3- to 6-month residencies for up to 15 emerging artists ages 18-30, selected locally and internationally. Residents receive mentoring, studio space and opportunities to exhibit, supported by partnerships with renowned artists like painter Omar Ba and curator Simon Njami.

Our art workshops reach over 2,000 Bamako youth annually through local schools and community groups. Led by resident artists, the workshops unlock creativity and empower self-expression, teaching skills from collage and photography to new media. Student artwork is frequently exhibited at the center.

Built for and by youth, the MAKORO CENTER aims to cultivate imagination, nurture talent, and strengthen social bonds through art. Join us in supporting Mali's next generation of creative leaders.