DOTUN Alabi, the Chairman Lagos Chapter, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) has said that poor patronage and lack of government’s support for the industry are discouraging the practice of  visual artists in the country.

Alabi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the trend was impeding on the development of visual art in the country.

He said that this had led many students of the arts to go for other means of livelihood after school as they could not profitably practice their act for survival.

“An average Nigerian thinks it is outrageous for him or her to spend some money on buying art works.

“That makes the arts the least patronised area of employment in the country and with government not giving a lending hand to its development,” he said.

Alabi also a practitioner of visual art appealed to the Federal Government to come up with programmes that would encourage the practice of the arts in the country.

He said that this would encourage the public to appreciate artists in the country.

“The art sector is a tool for national development and we have been hammering on it; look at the U.S., India and other countries that we watch their Telemoundo.

“They export these films to our country, we accept them but we have not thoughts of ways to develop ours, it is very disheartening,’’ he said.

He said that government could also promote the art sector through the construction of more galleries, giving special grants to artists and making the subject compulsory for secondary school students.

“If art is properly promoted, many youths will embrace it, and such will divert their attention away from crime,’’ he said.

According to Alabi, art can contribute enormously to the income of the country in the area of tourism if properly harnessed.

“It can be an effective tool for promoting the nation’s image abroad.

“Before the recession, the country was hopeful that the art sector would pick up.

“Then, it really looked as if we were getting there, but not with the present situation.

“It is worst now, not that people are not buying, but it is just a minute, not as it should be. And the citizens are not looking toward that angle,” he said. (NAN)

– Feb.  12, 2018 @ 12:05 GMT |