Arts can contribute to economic growth and development if the government and the private sector tap into the huge potential therein, abstract painter and Coordinator, Southwest zone of the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN), Ayoola Omovo, has said.
Omovo specifically said despite being an area people look down on, arts can be the tonic to boost tourism the same way Festac ’77, also known as the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, did by drawing countries across the world to Nigeria.
About 16, 000 participants, representing 56 African nations and countries of the African Diaspora, performed at Festac ’77, a major international festival held in Lagos, Nigeria, from January 15, 1977 to February 12, 1977.
The largest pan-African gathering to ever take place, the month-long event celebrated African culture and showcased to the world African music, fine art, literature, drama, dance and religion.
Omovo in an exclusive chat with The Nation, said apart from helping to boost tourism, arts, if fully exploited, can generate wealth and support economic recovery, as well as create employment opportunities for the teeming youths in Nigeria.
Read Also: ‘Mining sector must leverage technology for growth’
“Art is wealth. It is an investment that can never be taken away from anyone who is in it. Art appreciates in value. And if you are consistent, it makes you an employer of labour too,” Omovo, who is also a visual arts instructor, said.
She said one of the ways to unleash the capacity of arts to create wealth and jobs is for the government to create Arts Fair or Arts Festival once or twice in a year, as well as bring in more art materials so that Artists can get any materials at easy and affordable prices.
This, according to her, would help artists explore more on different aspects of arts and ultimately create jobs.
“The government should also create space for artists to work and sell their works, like Artist Village in every local government area, where citizens, visitors and tourists can visit to see artists at work, interact with them and also buy their works,” she added.
Omovo, however, stated that there is need for government to put a round peg in a round hole by ensuring that the right people are put in place to design and be in charge of the nation’s education curriculum particular as it relates to arts and craft.
She also said the Ministry of Art, Culture and Tourism should be handled by arts professionals. “The government can create an educational excursion around arts in all schools, both elementary and secondary, which will expose the children, teachers and parents to the value and appreciation of arts in the society, while the private sector should invest in public arts for beautification and creation of awareness of the value and relevance of arts to the public,” she said.
Leave a Reply