By JIDAUNA DARING, EUNICE IBRAHIM & REJOICE BITRUS
A former Senate Minority Leader, Simon Mwadkwon, has commended the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Plateau State Chapter, for its role in promoting artistic works in the state.
Senator Mwadkwon made the remark during this year’s SNA art exhibition held at Alliance Française French Cultural Centre, Jos, recently.
He pointed out that all forms of artwork carried meaning, expressing emotions such as love, poverty and war.
He stated: “Government must make art a well-recognised profession because the society cannot do without them. The profession is no doubt a multimillion one if recognised.”
Director General of the Plateau State Council for Arts and Culture, Dankyes Ephraim, highlighted the Mutfwang-led administration’s commitment to creating space for artists to excel both visually and literally.
“Art and its work always spark a thorough conversation, it provokes the heart to thinking and it gives you a space to identify the times and season which they are embedded in. This appears to be what we will continue to do. In this regard, His Excellency has seen the perspective in which artists must be given a regulatory platform so they can also excel,” he said.
Ephraim commended Governor Mutfwang for establishing the Plateau State Council for Arts and Culture, affirming the governor’s resolve to complete the long-abandoned Professor Luka Bentu Indoor Theatre, which, when completed, would serve as a platform for showcasing artworks.
He added that the partnership would also involve art residency and cultural exchange programmes, enabling artists to display their works both nationally and internationally.
Chairman of SNA, Plateau State Chapter, Mr Mark Rwang, expressed gratitude for the turnout, noting that the theme of this year’s exhibition, “It’s all us”, was a reminder that art belongs to everyone and reflects shared identity, struggles, and hopes.
“Every creative expression in this exhibition is a prize to us all, contributing to the rich cultural fabric of Plateau, and Nigeria as a whole,” Rwang said.
He stressed that limited visibility for art was largely due to government’s low investment in galleries and called for the creation of enabling spaces for artists to practice and showcase their creativity.
“A piece of art is the inner thought of someone. I hope the works we have will not only entertain you but also give opportunities to others by talking about the profession and encouraging others about art,” he added.
Two artists, Mr Joseph T. Yawus and Mrs Christiana Udubrae, told THE NIGERIA STANDARD that the exhibition offered them an opportunity to showcase their talents.
While they admitted poor patronage remained a challenge, they said the joy of creating art kept them going, with hope that their works would someday find homes in people’s houses and workplaces.
They added that greater government investment in the sector would encourage young talents to key into the profession, thereby reducing unemployment in the state.
Highlight of the event included the cutting of the exhibition ribbon by Senator Mwadkwon, who was chairman of the occasion, followed by a tour of the exhibition hall.