Teesa Bahana

Biography

Teesa Bahana is director of 32° East, an independent non-profit art centre dedicated to the transformative power of contemporary art in Kampala, Uganda. As director she has led the development and execution of projects such as 3 editions of KLA ART, Kampala's public art festival, dynamic residency programmes, and international exchanges, all while nurturing a thriving artistic community.
She is also currently overseeing 32° East's capital project, the first purpose-built art centre in Kampala. Phase 1 of the centre opened in March 2023 and has since been widely recognised in leading architecture publications. She has been a mentor/faculty on multiple art initiatives on the African continent, while also serving on various panels and advisory committees. She is also a trustee of the Localworks Foundation, greening Africa's construction industry, and network coordinator for Arts Collaboratory facilitating regular meetings with cultural practitioners from 18+ countries.