The goal of the Art Division is to increase appreciation and understanding of the visual arts in Botswana by promoting the activities of the National Art Gallery. The Art Division is one of the oldest divisions in the National Museum. The National Art Gallery, where most of the exhibitions take place, first opened its doors to the public in 1975. There are about two thousand artworks in the Permanent Art Collection. The collection includes a wide range of works such as masks from West Africa, historic paintings of early European travellers, The South African art project and contemporary works by Batswana artists.