5th January, 2018
Mr Shola Olamakinde, Chief Executive Officer of De Arts Place Gallery, on Friday said that works of arts are capable of generating huge revenue for the country if well-harnessed.
Olamakinde gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said the government was gradually waking up to realise the potentialities inherent in grooming arts.
According to him, the rate at which works of art are promoted will determine the growth of the tourism sector.
He advised the Federal Government to establish a fair that would be held annually to exhibit collections of art works, to boost tourism.
Olamakinde said that such annual fair would attract international tourists, and local artists would be given the opportunity to exhibit their skills.
He said that such exhibition should be done annually in the six geopolitical zones, with each zone exhibiting works peculiar to its area.
According to him, works of art like beads, carved materials, sculpture, tie and dye materials, batik, paintings, drawings, weaved materials and more could be exhibited.
“ Although arts sector is not where it ought to be and not where it used to be; there is progress, but it is very slow. We hope we will gain more momentum to make more progress over the years.
“It is important for a country as blessed in arts and talented artists as Nigeria to ensure there is a festival of arts, which would encompass visual arts, to boost tourism.
“Government will benefit immensely because of the influx of the international tourists; Nigerian youths will engage more in arts and employment opportunities will be available.”
Olamakinde urged the government to encourage all embassies to buy indigenous arts, to identify with the culture and values of their immediate environment.
He advised government to formulate art-related policies and sponsor exhibitions abroad, to further popularise the value of Nigerian arts.