NAN-H-79
Arts
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Sept. 7, 2017 (NAN) Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma, University of Abuja has called on the Federal Government to establish a bank for arts and creative industry to help boost activities of artistes in the country.
Evwierhoma made the call during her paper presentation titled: “Arts and Crafts in Nigerian: the Untapped Treasures” at the Investment Forum session of the African Arts and Craft Expo (AFAC) on Thursday in Abuja.
The Don of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Abuja said the sector needed greater push from the government in addition to private sector initiative to enable it attain greater functionality.
She said that the potency of the arts, crafts and other segments of the creative industry could not be felt if there was no vibrant policy and adequate funding.
She said that without an endowed fund, the steps required to discharge and emit the untapped treasures might remain a feeble objective.
“There is the need for the establishment of a specific bank for the arts and creative industry which will move the sector to a greater level of success.
“There are banks for agriculture, industry and mortgage. Establishing banks for arts will be of tremendous assistance in boosting the sector and creating jobs for our people.
“The trending funding space for social and creative entrepreneurs should be optimised.
“The repositioning of culture to diversify the economy is a contractual obligation by every stakeholder in the sector,” she said.
Evwierhoma said that AFAC had become relevant as means of fostering friendship and diplomatic re-engineering and international cultural administration in sub Saharan Africa.
According to her, arts exhibition should not be done in locations accessible only to people of high status, adding that traditional institutions could be co-opted in working out the exhibition.
The lecturer stressed the need for vendors to be actively engaged in the distribution of artworks due to lack of marketing skills by many artistes and craftsmen.
She however said that office furnitures and furnishing should reflect the country’s artistic heritage.
“Nevertheless, synergistic connection between the arts and craftsmen and other areas of creative industry should be enhanced.
“Media should focus more on arts and crafts to stimulate the engagement of youths in them.
“Rather than promote semi-nude pictures of women in our pages of newspaper, art works can be showcase,” she said.
According to Evwierhoma, school curriculum should deliberately provide distinction between arts and culture, music and drama as separate subjects.
She added that the focus on the sciences to the detriment of arts in schools had brought its own challenges.
“The artistic temperament is known to foster a preoccupation with science subjects and it is my opinion that this should be cultivated.” (NAN)
CMY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf