TARA aims to increase awareness of the importance of African rock art on a regional, continental and international level. It does this through the development of its Digital Archive, whose images are then used in publications and exhibitions. TARA has, since 2004, organised separate exhibitions at national (Kenya), regional (East African) and pan-African levels. Window on Africa's Past has made tours in Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Swaziland, Eritrea, Djibouti, Namibia and Tanzania between 2007 and 2009. These exhibitions have been a tremendous success, and are a wonderful means of bringing the beauty of rock art closer to both children and adults.

Our current activities include the development of a new website, a survey of Rock Art sites in Libya, exhibitions at the Nairobi National Museum and the Desert Museum in Loyangalani (Lake Turkana), development and promotion of Rock Art merchandise for sale at the museums and online, and the promotion of Rock Art Tourism in Western Kenya, which includes the construction of a new museum on Mfangano Island (Abasuba Community Peace Museum). Our Digital Archive, TARA's core activity, holds a collection of over 17,000 high quality and high-resolution digitised images of rock art - out of an overall collection of over 60,000 images. TARA, among other organisations, is currently collaborating with Aluka to make available online a unique collection of its images and information about rock art in Africa. This database also includes important research and analysis of rock art, as well as a vast collection of images of photographs, tracings, drawings, GIS, and selected 3D models of rock art caves. For more information, download Aluka's 'African Cultural Heritage Sites and Landscapes' handout

TARA works with local communities and organisations to develop cultural tourism ventures. At the same time, it works with national museums, relevant government departments responsible for national heritage, and other institutions to ensure that rock art sites are identified, afforded legal protection, conserved and recognised as part of our cultural heritage.

A very important component of any awareness campaign is community engagement. TARA's has undertaken successful community participation activities in Lybia, Kakapel and Suba District (Kenya). The Trust continues to work with communities living in and around rock art sites, to encourage a better understanding of and appreciation for the art. As major stakeholders, the communities are also involved in the protection and maintenance of the sites, and benefit from income generation where entry is charged to the site. In this way, not only is awareness being created, but there are tangible results that go a long way towards poverty reduction in rural areas.

TARA also creates awareness through the sale of specially-produced rock art merchandise. Please don't forget to visit our Gift Shop!