Explore arts and culture to revive economy – Sculptor
NAN-H-3
Arts
By Vezi Isike
Lagos, Oct. 22, 2016 (NAN) A sculptor, Blessing Diafe, has appealed to the Federal Government to explore arts and culture as a tool in reviving the economy of the country in this period of recession.
This call came on the heels of the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, appeal for a public- private partnership to make the sector more economically viable.
Diafe, a Lagos-based sculptor, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that government exploring arts and culture would diversify the economy and create more job opportunities for youths.
He said that the involvement of government in the industry would not only generate revenue but sustain the country’s cultural heritage.
Diafe told NAN that the inherent potential of the sector was yet to be explored by practitioners for lack of resources.
According to him, art galleries and museums are under funded thereby restricting the productivity of sculptors to compete with their foreign counterparts.
”Our cultural heritage is preserved by artworks and these artworks are highly sort for by foreigners.
“But we do not have standard galleries to showcase the craft of artists so that they can be appreciated and even connected to the foreigners.
“If government gets involved, there will be steady promotion of the sector which will yield benefits for the entire economy,”he said. (NAN)
VOI/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha