By Lari Williams

A MINISTRY for arts is needed to rebrand Nigeria. Government should invest in Arts. Arts can rebrand, enrich and beautify Nigeria into an unbelievable haven. However, it requires the restructuring and building of an organized industry that can match the tempo and sophistication of today’s Art Market.

This can only happen when the government recognizes the fact that it will require a separate “Arts Ministry” to cope with the enormity of Art in its various forms, starting with the enabling environment for creativity in Sculpture, Painting, Ceramic, Photography, etc.

One big CHANGE that Nigeria needs is to establish a separate Ministry for Arts and make an artist like the “miracle worker,” former governor and musician, unforgettable Donald Duke, the Minister. Until this is done, the dream, the predictions, wild revelry and hope of a giant and vibrant entertainment industry will remain a pipe dream.

The rustling on the surface of deep waters should not deceive Nigerians that all is well and the fishes are all waiting to be caught in the first spread of a net. We need the magic wand of a Donald Duke to the rescue. Nigeria’s entertainment is dancing on the mire. There is no solid foundation to sustain the uncultured steps.

It takes “initiated eyes” to see the rot, and the former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke, like the “pied piper” is the one artist, innovator, and miracle working nation builder that can step in and restructure the nation’s art world and make a viable industry out of the debris.

ART is the spiritual bloodstream of a nation. There is no health in a nation that does not have well-structured and properly nurtured “Art Farm.” It is from the farm that wealth will spring to enrich the nation. Art keeps the world alive like dark nights are kept alive with sounds, winds whistling tunes and sleepless ocean roaring in constant rhythm, orchestrating the music of Mother Nature.

Indeed a world without art and music is unthinkable. So we continually replicate the creator’s work by our artistic activities. Now that humanity recognises and appreciates the works, the value is increased. The commercial value of Arts has made nations rich. Nigeria should not be an exception.

Then to the performing arts like Acting, Dancing, Modelling, Film Making, Music, Fashion Designing, Television Movies, Play Writing, Novels, Poetry, Children’s Literature. After the storm of creativity comes the current of sales through Exhibitions, Exportation, Packaging, Showcasing, and Staging.

Generousdonation

The only wall standing so far is the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC) and it has no roof over the top. Perhaps that was the reason Jonathan’s bonanza was not sent there. The generous donation has been kept in the bank with twenty five (25) conditions to be met by any artist who wishes to access the loan.

Among these conditions is that any stage or television producer, musician, who wants to put up a show needs a building, a company with directors and adequate collaterals in order to seek funds to fulfil his or her plans. Of course, these conditions can be met by big establishments of importers and exporters while the real artists struggle in vain to hire the National Arts Theatre for five hundred thousand naira (N500, 000) a night.

This has almost killed theatre productions dead. Thanks to a few private venues like Muson Centre and Teraculture who are accepting shows. The much talked about Nollywood is floating on the scantily clad “take-ten-shots and get one good one” to make a star.

I wonder how long film makers and Directors of Photography can exercise patience with untrained actors who want to learn acting on set, in front of cameras. It is about time we realized that STAGE is the cradle of acting. The country needs Stage Schools to train actors, not theatre Arts Departments in Universities.