The National Gallery of Art seeks to focus global attention on Nigerian visual arts with a regional summit and exhibition
By Oluokun Ayorinde/Abuja
The recent sale of works by two of Nigeria’s leading artists, Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya and Yusuf Grillo, for record prices of N9.2million and N5.5million respectively at an auction in Lagos provides a perfect anchor for the discussion of the economic potentials inherent in the nation’s visual arts, stakeholders in the sector agreed in Abuja recently. Beyond that, however, many more Nigerian and African visual artists will have a better opportunity of displaying their works to the outside world as the National Gallery of Art is set to hold the First African Regional Summit and Exhibition On Visual Arts, ARESUVA, scheduled for September this year.
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| • (L) Kolade Oshinowo, renown artist, Adetokunbo Kayode, Minister of Tourrsm and Culture, Joe Musa, DG National Gallery of Art and Frank Chukwuma, President AGAN. Photos: Femi Ipaye. |
the theme: Promoting The Visual Arts For Sustainable Economic Growth and Development in Africa, the objective of the summit is to promote the visual arts as a strategy for achieving rapid economic development in the African region as envisioned in the New Partnerships for African Development, NEPAD. The NGA estimated that about 1,500 people involved in business, politics, media, government and the creative industry across Africa will attend the three-day event. But ARESUVA will not just be about exhibition and sale of artworks.
The summit will also feature a stakeholders dialogue designed to bring to the fore the various business opportunities available in the visual arts sub-sector through a series of seminars, work-group sessions, workshops and business meetings. Key among the issues to be discussed will be how to encourage the private and public sectors to fund visual arts in a way that can turn the sub-sector into a significant player in the economy of the African region just like it is in the developed economies.
In this vein, participants will seek ways of encouraging the movement of the sector towards export-oriented production and opening up of the region’s economy for the participation of foreign investors, among other issues. Stakeholders will also have the opportunity of discussing various problems confronting the sub-sector.
While inaugurating the Central Working Committee of the event in Abuja two weeks ago, Adetokunbo Kayode, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation noted that the summit, which is the first of its kind on the continent, will bring together key players, artists and other stakeholders at home and in the Diaspora to witness the very best of African Arts. He added that this is the right time for visual arts to take its deserved place in the development of the Nigerian economy.
Also speaking at the occasion, Joe Musa, Director-General, NGA, said ARESUVA is in sync with developments that have taken place in African arts, culture and by extension, tourism sector in the past one decade. “The region can now boast of major new and emerging cultural institutions, an international reputation for public arts, internationally recognised artists and cultural facilities,” said Musa.
He added that the visual arts sub-sector is now viewed globally not just as a catalyst for change but also as an important element of major economic regeneration initiatives. To ensure the success of the event, all stakeholders in the sector were widely consulted and involved in the design of the summit, Musa told this magazine.
Soni Irabor, Chairman of the Working Committee, promised that no stone would be left unturned to ensure that the summit is a success. “This should be an exercise that will further propagate the strength of Nigerian arts…(which) are so powerful that there are works all over the world. Now, the noise has to be made. We have so many distinguished artists. We pledge our loyalty and utmost commitment to its success,” the distinguished broadcaster said.
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