Nigeria to host arts summit, exhibition in Abuja

Abuja, Nigeria - Nigeria will from 7 September host the first one week of African Regional Summit and Exhibition on Visual Arts (ARESUVA) in the nation's capital, Abuja, PANA reports Thursday. The summit and exhibition are part of the efforts towards achieving rapid cultur al and economic development as envisioned in the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

Stakeholders from more than 30 African nations, representatives of international organisations and other parts of the world are slated to attend the event, taking place at the International Conference Centre (ICC).

Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, told journalists that the summit would give Africa and Nigeria the needed globa l recognition and make the nation a tourist destination.

Kayode said adequate provision had been made to ensure the successful take-off of the summit, which is expected to generate between US$ 50 million and US$ 100 million in foreign exchange earnings.

He pointed out further that the summit was also expected to be sustained through a public/private partnership and the international business communities because of the huge value and the limitless talent in arts work.

According to him, the Nigerian visual arts would soon go on a world tour as a wa y of providing opportunity for Nigerian artists to showcase their talent as well as provide the opportunity to display Nigerian art works because already the ministry is putting in place the framework that would ensure the sustainability of ARESUVA.

On the economic benefits of the summit to Nigeria, the Director-General of the N ational Gallery of Arts Joe Musa said arts was beauty that was appreciated and t h e value of artwork was limitless.

Musa said that was why ARESUVA was put together by the National Gallery of Arts with the aim of transforming visual arts into a major economic earner in Africa i n line with the yearnings of stakeholders.

He said the summit would bring visual artists, arts scholars and other stakehold ers in the arts business together for the promotion of visual arts in Africa and would address the issue of development and setbacks in the arts sector.

According to him, it will also forge a means of providing significant and lastin g global solutions that would ensure the future of visual arts development and s u pport sustainable creative strategy for practitioners and stakeholders in the sector as a tool for economic reintegration.
http://www.afriquenligne.fr/nigeria-to-host-arts-summit,-exhibition-in-abuja-2008090511964.html
Abuja - 04/09/2008