By Elizabeth ADENUGA
The Chief Executive Officer, BrotherArt Productions, Nkang Ini-Dan, on Sunday advised the Federal Government to resuscitate the National Gallery of Arts (NGA) in Lagos from its oresent moribund state.
Ini-Dan said the government would achieve this by appointing a seasoned and professional artist to head the organization.
Ini-Dan said in Lagos that if the government should take that step, the gallery would become a beehive of activities.
He said that the gallery would be able to provide services for the public in line with the mandate establishing it instead of becoming a dilapidated centre.
He said that the inefficiency of the gallery was “why the appreciation of the art sector is dying and nose-diving everyday.
“No matter what we do in this country, without promoting arts, the nation will still be docile because art and culture drive a country,’’ he said.
He said that art and culture were capable of generating huge financial resources for the country and could also sell the country to the rest of the world.
He advised that government to ensure that its change mantra also affects positively the art sector .
“The performing art sector has capable hands that will help map out ways that will make the sector viable and thrive.
“They are all ready to serve if government calls on them to help move the art sector forward.
“Government can do that easily by engaging them and listening to their professional advice on how to grow the sector.
“Arts should be promoted because it enhances the growth of a country, boosts its GDP and bring in foreign exchange also,” he said..
He said that the Nollywood and the music sectors had continued to do that for the country based on individual efforts.
He appealed to the government to still assist in organising the sector to better the lots of the practitioners.