The Lagos State Government has revealed plans to hold an art exhibition tagged: “Greater Lagos Art Exhibition”, with the aim of encouraging and giving visibility to Artists by showcasing their artworks to art enthusiasts and the world in general.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf highlighted the flow of activities lined up for the exhibition at a Press Conference held on Thursday at the Conference Room of the Ministry in Alausa, Ikeja.
She disclosed that the ‘Greater Lagos Arts and Exhibition’ has been slated to hold on Tuesday, 13th of December 2022 at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State.
Revealing the theme for the Exhibition which is “Arts in and for Transformation”, Akinbile-Yussuf informed that the event will feature a Panel Discussion and Workshop on Art transformation by art scholars, managers and art enthusiasts including a renowned art icon, Mama Nike Davies-Okundaye and a host of others.
According to the Commissioner, the State Government is using the event to draw the attention of the public to the potential of art and to also showcase to the world, the artworks of different artists that would participate in the event.
She further stated that the State Government is aware that in order to succeed in the field of artwork, there is a need to discover an interest in the works of art early in life, stressing that artists need all the encouragement and support they can get from both individuals and the government so that they can continue to thrive.
In her words: “The Office of the Lagos State First Lady and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is using this event to draw the attention of the public to the potentials in art and to also showcase the artworks of different artists that would be participating in this event to the world.
“The Ministry considered it necessary to extend the same attention devoted to the tourism and entertainment parts of our mandate to the art practitioners as well. This, we believe, will further complement our tourism drive and project Lagos State positively to the world as a trailblazer in pacesetting ideas in arts, culture and entertainment in Nigeria”.
“With this event, we would also be showcasing great artworks from Nigerian artists in order to make them visible on the global art scene. We believe, that with all these, art would assume its rightful position as a profession and not a mere practice” she stated.
Akinbile-Yusuf also used the medium to urge members of the public to be part of the process of supporting artists through patronage, saying that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has instituted an interest-free loan for practitioners in the creative sector including the sponsorship of capacity enhancement training for interested youths with internationally-recognised Creative Academies.
“All these, the State Government believes would assist in addressing the rate of unemployment in Nigeria and Lagos State in particular. With the theme for this upcoming art exhibition, we are underscoring the roles of artworks in the transformation of Lagos from a Mega City now to an evolving Smart City”, Akinbile-Yusuf said.
