TARA held a Gala event on 4th of June 2008 at the Nairobi Museum, which served to officially open its exhibition 'The Dawn of Imagination', as well as to launch the Rock Art Tourism in Kenya programme. The colourful event was well attended by TARA and NMK partners, stakeholders from the tourism industry, and numerous dignitaries, including the Minister for Immigration, Hon. Otieno Kajwang'. Hon Kajwang' is also the Member of Parliament for Mbita Constituency, under which Suba falls. Suba District is rich in rock art sites, which are managed through a vibrant community project spearheaded by the Abasuba Community Peace Museum and TARA. Also in attendance were Dr. Dan Kagagi, CEO Tourism Trust Fund; Dr. Idle Farah, Director General of the NMK; Ambassador Eric van der Linden, head of the EU Delegation in Kenya, HE Michael Ranneberger, US Ambassador to Kenya; HE Walter Lindner, German Ambassador to Kenya; and Wanjiku Munene, Director of Tourism on behalf of the Minister for Tourism Hon. Najib Balala.

This event was a great step towards achieving TARA's mission to create greater global awareness on the importance and endangered state of Africa's rock art. Sustainable conservation measures can only be achieved through involvement of local communities in areas where rock art is found. In this regard, TARA is working towards promoting rock art tourism so as to ensure that communities living around rock art sites realise socio-economic benefits accruing from these sites. This event was made possible through a grant from the European Union through Kenya's Tourism Trust Fund (TTF).