REVAMPING THE CULTURAL SECTOR

THE ‘ANT’ PROJECT

The ANT project looks at the substance and relationships vis a vis functionality of all government cultural agencies across the country.

The government agencies to be considered are:
Arts Gallery
National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC)
National Theatre / National Troupe of Nigeria (NT / NTN)
National Museum
National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO)
Centre for Black African Arts Civilization (CBAAC)
Tourism

Brief: AS THEY ARE
The National Arts Gallery takes care predominantly of visual arts and other matters as related.

National Council for Arts and Culture articulates chiefly, all traditional cultures mainly for; (i) archival purpose (ii) performances / display} Arts. And other matter as related

National Theatre / National Troupe of Nigeria articulate and display through performances and all, the literature of the Nigerian people as a repository for cultural exchange and other matters as related.

National Museum archives for display mostly for historical relevance, natural / national cultural and traditional heritages and all other matters as related.

National Institute for Cultural Orientation is primarily a school which deals with orientating willing students about the cultural practices of Nigerian people, and all other matters as related.

Centre for Black African Arts Civilization is an archival agency that deals primarily with the information on picture (motion/still) and historical artifacts and all other matters as related.

Tourism Board is a major factor in the display of natural heritage mainly for revenue generation and all other matters as related.


Brief : WHAT WAS WRONG
National Arts Gallery adequate programming / policy / funding
· NCAC funds / policy / programming /staff incompetence
· NT / NTN policy /funding/ programming / staff incompetence
· National Museum funding / programming /policy (?)
· NICO non-merger / policy
· CBAAC non-merger / policy / funding
· Tourism programming / funding

PROPOSAL
To make this agencies function as they should for better result, this suggestions are to be considered:

National Arts Gallery should consider taking some of the responsibilities of CBAAC such as, picture archive (still / motion)

National Museum should consider taking over other responsibilities of CBAAC such as, archival of National artifacts.

National Institution for Cultural Orientation should operate under NCAC

Brief: WHAT THEY OUGHT TO BE
National Arts Gallery through its programmes should be a repository and a custodian of the nation’s visual arts for purpose of history, commerce, research, residency and education. It should be autonomously run by experts but controlled by government

National Council for Arts and Culture through its programmes should be the nerve, the centre point between the government, other cultural institutions and the public through cultural information, training, cultural policies, education, residency and grants. It should be managed strictly by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism. It should design a workable plan in which our traditional festivals can also be of touristic value (TT Agenda). The NICO merger would be the informal college that takes care of the education aspect of its programming.

National Theatre / National Troupe of Nigeria is a victim of bad policy therefore, if the policy review is done, the NT should only have National Theatre Company in which case, members will be the resident artistes. Its programmes should place the NT as the route that helps throw up new talents in our literary circle through performances, reading etc. It should help the education sector especially in literature and drama departments. It should publish books, it should help in juxtaposing our arts vis a vis our culture against that of the others for relevance and standardization in the global setting through performances and all. It should be autonomously run by a group of experts contracted but controlled by government.

National Museum should be upgraded to match international standard. It should be managed by government. Strong security arrangement is needed at the Museum because our history resides there.

The Tourism Board should work hand in hand with the NCAC for effectiveness in the discharge of its duty in the display of natural heritage mainly for revenue generation. It should be managed by government.

Brief: PROGRAMMING
· National Arts Gallery Visual Art Expo / Summer Arts Festival (SAFE)/ Workshops, Seminars / Exhibitions / Training / Residency / Visual Arts Museum… etc./ EXPERT PROGRAMMER IS NEEDED

· NCAC Re-designed NAFEST / Award Grants / Training / National Arts Fair / Seminars / Workshops / Collating arts event calendar / TT Agenda / Hall of Fame … etc / AN EXPERT PROGRAMMER IS NEEDED

· NT / NTN AN EXPERT PROGRAMMER IS NEEDED
·
· National Museum AN EXPERT PROGRAMMER IS NEEDED
·
· Tourism AN EXPERT PROGRAMMER IS NEEDED

Brief: FUNDING
· National Arts Gallery Government subvention / Funding Agencies / corporate finance

· NCAC Heavily funded by government / Funding Agencies

· NT / NTN Government subvention / Funding Agencies / Corporate finance

· National Museum Funded by government / Funding Agencies / Corporate finance

· Tourism Funded by government / Funding Agencies / Corporate finance

Brief: RECOMMENDATIONS
That the legislation for the restructuring of all these institutions should be pursued vigorously for adequate results in all their activities so that they can have positive bearing on Nigerians and the nation.

That a formidable Committee should be setup to articulate and discuss, to a logical conclusion the issues raised by this proposal. And to expand on programmes recommended.

That the NCAC should in whatever the conclusion of the Committee, institute a National Arts Endowment Funds (NAEF) to support the down stream sector (private arts companies) of the Art/Culture sector.


CONCLUSION
It is pertinent to know that this sector is a major factor in the economical re-engineering that the Nigerian government seeks. In terms of social conduct and preservation of the Nigerian identities which is important in nationhood, this sector plays a vital role. It is in this regard that I am pleading with the government to stop treating the sector with such levity as displayed in the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo led government.