Review Policy on arts and culture

Review Policy on arts and culture
Chinedu Iheaka, Lagos

Concerned Nigerians are calling for urgent review of Nigeria’s National policy on art and culture and its implementation with a view to achieve greater relevance and sustainability in the art industry.

The call came in Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial centre during a book launch on preserving Africa’s cultural heritage through collection of modern and contemporary arts.

According to a traditional ruler,Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, art and culture will only be a key to development process if adequate steps are taken to reform the existing cultural laws.

Achebe also called for reflection on the high level of sophistication, creative imagination and skills evident in artworks created by African ancestors from the ancient past to the contemporary era.

Reacting to question on efforts made so far by the government to entrench and popularise arts and culture in Nigeria’s academic institutions, the curator National Museum Lagos, Victoria Agalli says the Nigerian government has recorded tremendous success in the area of promoting art and culture in Nigerian schools, with the inclusion of art and culture in academic curriculum.

On conservation of Nigerian art works for posterity, Agalli says Nigerian artist and art collectors have been able to demonstrate high level resourcefulness.

Cokey