ABSTRACT
The National Gallery of Art (NGA) as an agency of Government under the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, is vested with the responsibility of supervising the visual art sector. This is enshrined in the NGA Amendment Act 2004 which stipulates their functions and mode of operation. One such mandate is to ensure good up-bringing as well as prepare children for the needed roles of patriotism, loyalty, governance, and appreciation of good cultural values. The children art activities of the NGA are the focus of this study. The problem of this study therefore is that, the nature and content of the visual art programmes for Children at the National Gallery of Art, as well as the scope of their activities, are yet to be scholarly examined and documented within the context of their impact and contributions to the development of Nigerian children and indeed modern art in Nigeria, hence, the need to critically examine, as well as document them, with emphasis on Saturday Art Club and National Children‟s Art celebration. This is done with the aim of revealing the scope, nature and contents of such children art programmes as well as their contributions to art practice in Nigeria. The objectives of this study are to: (1) critically appraise and document the children‟s art programmes of NGA in relation to their objectives (2) examine the scope, nature and content of NGA children‟s visual art programmes and (3) investigate the benefits (if any), derived by children and professional artists from the children art programmes of NGA. In order to achieve this, literature relevant to the study were sourced. These include books, journals, exhibition catalogues and research reports. Questionnaires and oral interviews were used to obtain data, while two sampling techniques; random sampling and judgmental sampling methods were adopted, as also used by Duniya (2000), Mamza (2000) and Yaktal (2009). Two qualitative research approaches; historical and descriptive methods were employed. Pilot study was conducted in six NGA centers of Abuja, Umuahia, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Minna and Lagos. From the analysis and discussions, the study reveals that the nature of NGA children art activities are carried out on the basis of stimulating creative spirit in children through art competitions, fostering unity among Nigerian children as well as celebrating children‟s achievements through the children‟s art exhibition and celebration. However, findings reveal that the scope of NGA children‟s visual art programmes is narrow compared to a number of children that are opportuned to participate in the programme. The study therefore recommends that the scope, nature and content of visual art programmes for Children at the National Gallery of Art need to be improved and scholarly documented.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page …………………………………………………………………….………………….. i
Declaration ……………………………………………………………………………………… ii
Certification ……………………………………………………………………………………… iii
Dedication ……………………………………………………………………………………….. iv
Acknowledgement ……………………………………………………………………………… v
Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………………….… vi
Table of Content ……………………………………………………………………………….. vii
List of Figures, Tables and Plates ………………………………………………………………..ix
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction …………….……………………………………..…………………………………. 1
Background to the Study ……………………..…………..……………………………………… 1
Statement of Problem …………………………….……….……………………………………….2
Objectives of the Study ………………………….………….……………..………………………..3
Research Questions ………………………………………………………………………………..3
Justification for the Study ……………..………………………….………………………..….…3
Significance of the Study …………………………………………………………………..……..4
Scope of the Study ……………..………………………………………………………………….4
CHAPTER TWO
Review of related literature
Introduction ………………………………………………………….……………………….…..5
Origin of the National Gallery of Art……………………………………….……………………..6
Development of the National Gallery of Art………….……………………………………………8
NGA‟s promotion of visual arts activities …………………………………………………………11
The Gallery and modern art in Nigeria ……………………………….…………………..…..….19
CHAPTER THREE
Methodology
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………26
Research Design …………………………………………………………………………..………26
Population and sample …………………………………………………………………….………26
Research Instruments………………………………………………………………………………28
Result of Samples obtained……………………………………………………………………….31
Data analysis Technique ………………………………………………………………………….32
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CHAPTER FOUR
Data Presentation, Results and Discussions
Introduction …………..…………………………………………………………………………. 34
Scope, Nature and Content of NGA Children Art activities ……………………………….…….34
Scope of Visual Arts programmes for Children at NGA ………………………………….…….34
Nature of Visual Arts programmes for Children at NGA……………………………….……….35
Content of Visual Arts programmes for Children at NGA ….……………………….………….39
Benefits of Visual Arts programmes for Children at NGA to Children and professional
artists in Nigeria…………………………………………………………………………..……. 41
Benefits to Children …………………………………………………………………………… 41
Benefits to Professional Artists………………………………………………………………… 42
Appraisal of Children Art activities of NGA in selected States of Nigeria…………..…………..43
Federal Capital Territory Abuja ……………………………………………………….…………….…..43
NGA Outstation, Umuahia…………………………………………………………………….….52
NGA Outstation, Uyo ………………………………..………………………………………….56
NGA Outstation, Port Harcourt………………………………………………………………….59
NGA Outstation, Minna..………………….…………………………….……………………….60
NGA Outstation, Lagos ..…………….……………………………………………….………….62
Major Findings and Discussions …………………………………………………………………65
CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
Summary …………………………………………….……………………………………….…..67
Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………….……68
Recommendations…..…………………….………………………………………….…………….69
References……………………………………………………………………………….….……70
Appendix 1: Research questionnaire ………………………………………………………..……72
Appendix 2: Research interview …………….……………..……………………………………..74
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Children in every society are broadly categorized as part of the population that has not been properly integrated into adulthood, or young ones that are yet to attain the age or stage of taking responsibilities for roles that are performed by adults. The task of training children for a better tomorrow is therefore, taken very seriously; not only because they are leaders of tomorrow, but also because, they are the practical way of ensuring the sustenance and survival of a people‟s culture, into the next generation. As such, different programmes have been designed (formally or informally) by individuals, groups or institutions to promote and celebrate children‟s knowledge as well as skills, on various aspects of culture. For example, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in recognition of this, have set aside May 27, of every year to celebrate children‟s achievements and dreams throughout the world.
Apart from that, other nations have children‟s programmes to enable them get good up-bringing as well as prepare them for the needed roles of patriotism, loyalty, governance, and appreciation of good cultural values (Muku, 2011). In the United States 4-H is a non formal educational programme that is primarily developed for young people from 5 to 19 years of age. The organization‟s symbol “4-H”stands for the development of children and youth through Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. The overall aim of the organization is to help children and youths acquire knowledge, life skills, and attitudes that will enable them to become self-directed, productive, and contributing members of society. In Nigeria also, such programmes have been developed by schools or institutions with specific objectives that are fashioned towards promoting children‟s abilities in certain
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areas of cultural endeavour. In visual arts, government agencies and other cultural bodies like the National Gallery of Art (NGA), National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), and some foreign cultural centers like Gothe-Institut (GI) and Alliance Francaise (AF), have been organizing children‟s art programmes and promoting visual artists in Nigeria for decades now. Examples of such programmes include children art competition, exhibition, primary and secondary school children‟s art workshops. The National Gallery of Art by its statutes of Decree 86 of 1993 as amended by the National Assembly Act (2004) is empowered to organise competitions and talent hunts in fine and applied arts. It is a Federal Government Agency responsible for the development of modern Nigerian visual arts, including art works produced by children. The Gallery promotes and celebrates children‟s knowledge as well as skills, on various aspects of visual arts through their numerous children‟s art activities, such as the Saturday Art Club, National Children‟s Art Celebration and Children‟s art Exhibition. However, most of such children‟s visual art programmes have not been scholarly studied and documented especially as it relates to their contributions to modern art development in Nigeria, as information on their activities are only sourced from event brochures, conference papers and catalogues. The scope, nature and content of these children‟s art activities need to be studied. It is in view of this, among other factors that the researcher carried out a study of visual art programmes for children at the National Gallery of Art. Statement of Problem
The overall mandates of National Gallery of Art (NGA) are directed towards visual art promotion. The Saturday Art Club and National Children‟s art celebration are by design, some of the major activities of the Gallery which are aimed at discovering talented children through monthly Saturday meetings, and helping them to promote, stimulate and
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harness their creative potentials. This is in line with NGA number three function which is Organizing Competitions and talent hunts in fine and applied arts and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declaration on Children which have set aside May 27, of every year to celebrate children‟s achievements and dreams throughout the world. The problem of this study therefore is that the nature and content of these NGA children‟s art programmes, as well as the scope of their activities are yet to be scholarly examined and documented within the context of their impact and contributions to the development of Nigerian children and indeed modern art in Nigeria, hence, the need to critically examine, as well as document them, with emphasis on Saturday Art Club and National Children‟s Art celebration. Objectives of the Study The objectives of the study are to:
1. examine the scope, nature as well as the contents of NGA children‟s visual art programmes.
2. appraise and document the children‟s art programmes of NGA in relation to their objectives.
3. investigate the benefits (if any), derived by children and professional artists from the children art programmes of NGA.
Research Questions The following questions are necessary to achieve the objectives of this study;
1. what is the nature of NGA visual arts programmes for children ?
2. How is the scope of NGA visual arts activities?
3. How does the content of NGA visual arts programmes look like?
Justification for the Study
Today, there exist some biographies, conference proceedings and books written by professionals within the art sub sector and published by the National Gallery of Art on
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various activities of the Gallery. However, not much has been documented on the Saturday art club and National Children‟s art celebration. Children need to be motivated to have faith in themselves and be more inspired to pursue a career in art. This study is therefore, justified because, it will documentarily present, as well as, discuss the activities of the National Gallery of Art especially the Saturday art club and National Children‟s art celebration as it relates to its roles and functions in modern Nigerian art. Significance of the Study This study brings to light, new ideas and information necessary for further growth within the art community in Nigeria and the National Gallery of Art especially as it relates to the promotion of children‟s art. It will also be of immense benefit to stakeholders involved in Children‟s developmental programmes. This is because, it will serve as, not only a new perspective, but a working document, which will present a documentary history of the activities of the Gallery, and a fair picture of how the NGA has performed over the years in terms of children‟s programmes. Scope of the Study This study focused mainly on children‟s visual art programmes of National Gallery of Art from (2002 to 2012) with emphasis on (2008 to 2012) when the National Gallery of Art consistently ran a number of children‟s art programmes, as well as carried out cultural activities that are child-art inclined in Nigeria. Such programmes include the Children‟s Saturday art club, Children‟s art celebration, Children art exhibition, as well as other children related art activities carried out by NGA within that period.
The NGA has centers in some Nigerian cities; this study is further delimited to NGA stations that are running children‟s art programmes relating to Saturday art club and Children‟s art celebration namely; Abuja, Umuahia, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Minna and Lagos.
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