The Director General, National Gallery of Art (NGA), Mr Ebetan William Ivara, says challenges bedeviling the NGA and the creative industry if left unchecked will puncture confidence, reduce opportunities and put many visual art practitioners on unemployment and further undermine governments policy plan of building a creative and imaginative nation.
Mr Ivara noted this on Tuesday in Abuja during the Stakeholders Forum, National Gallery of Art (NGA) with theme “Transforming Nigeria through contemporary Visual Art: Public and Private Sector Funding Interventions and Synergy”.
He highlighted the Act establishing the NGA which makes it service oriented and not revenue driven adding that amending that act will be a starting point in making NGA more impactful.
He further lamented poor funding of the NGA noting that the repository for the country’s creative spirit has greatly limited its capacity to rise to the occasion.
He further said legislation on policies is affecting the creative sector. “The suspicion of the political class over the years has been that the creative industry, especially the Visual Art is only but a drain in the national purse as they lack capacity to generate reasonable wealth for the nation.
“This has therefore affected the will for favorable policies that will impact the industry positively. Also, there is the constraint of a befitting National Office Complex for the NGA.
According to him, the challenge for us as stakeholders is to be able to craft a better future where we can enable and empower the Visual Art Sector with the necessary support and enabling environment that can launch creative ideas and visions into reality.
He said the goal is to have a vibrant and robust sector that positively channels 70% of our population which are youth to productivity, a sub-sector that will create a platform for civic engagement, advocacy and entertainment.
Also, the Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, Mr Li Xuda assured that China will always be here for Nigeria as a big supporter stating that the cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries will be definitely further strengthened in the future.
Earlier, the Director, Planning and Research, NGA, Dr.E. Otaigbe explained that the Stakeholders’ Forum is designed for the sole purpose of gathering an assemblage of distinguished Artists of African descent Art scholars, Art Administrators, Captain of Industry, Private Gallery owners etc. to brainstorm and chart a new Course for Visual Art Industry in Nigeria and come out with recommendation on way forward.
Dr Otaigbe said the theme of the forum is apt coming at a time National Gallery of Art is in a crossroad, need transformation and contributions of all the relevant stakeholders to make NGA viable revenue generating Agency and contribute its own quota towards Nigeria economic growth and development using visual Art to drive the economy.
She said it in the realization that stakeholders hold the key to growth and development of the visual art sub sector that the Director General and his management has graciously approved the programme in spite of the limited fund available.
