Artists Criticise Media

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Saturday, 22 September 2007

Members of Art in Social Structures (AISS), an NGO have criticised the Ghanaian media for the little attention being given art and artists in the country leading to low interest in art among the people.

They explained that art is fundamental to civil societies and important that a community’s creative resources are preserved and nurtured for its own growth and for future generations.

The members indicated that the situation has made it difficult for people to take up art and or take artists seriously in the country.

The group made the remarks at a "Journalists Art Criticism Workshop" in Accra designed to whip up the interest of journalists with little or no art training to become engaged with visual culture.

Conceptualised by Dr. Joe Nkrumah, a former Director of the National Museum of Ghana, the workshop created a platform for the journalist participants to discuss and evaluate some art work after they were taken through the elements of art and key ingredients in critiquing art work.

Senam Okudzeto, President of the AISS said due to the absence of art critique in the country, "the people don’t feel their relationship with art. Through the media every will be able to see, share and appreciate art".

She observed that although Ghana abounds in visual art, most Ghanaians do not appreciate it and its media too has not done enough to promote it," adding "the newspapers are saturated with politics"

She said that there are a number of popular musicians, artists, writers, authors and architects whose work abroad advertise Ghana as a site of cultural excellence and are internationally lauded as global leaders in culture, yet are virtually known in their own country.

Ms.Okudzeto who is an international artists, said that local artists such as Agblade Glover, Victor Butler and Kofi Settogee who are in the country receive little media attention, though they are very respected abroad.

She said it is important that Ghanaians are made aware of the achievements of their artists both locally and internationally.

She said the AISS is much committed in encouraging a creative and practical discourse about art and contemporary life in the country.

Contributing, Dr. Audrey Gadzekpo, Ag. Director of the School of Communication Studies of the University of Ghana said art is intrinsic to us as people, saying "we wear art in our daily lives."

She said it is the responsibility of the media to bring the meaning of art to the people in order for them to have interest in art. "You should write in such a way that will interest them," adding "We should not say people are not interested"

It is important that journalists critically look at what art is in our culture and tell it to their readers and listeners, she said, noting that Ghanaian journalists have left the stories of the country’s culture to be told by "outsiders".

Dr. Gadzekpo urged journalists to promote the beautiful things in the country’s culture most of which she noted are fundamental to art.

She indicated that art and artefacts within our society tells us that civilisation was there long before the Europeans came to Africa.

On his part, Godfried Donkor, a Ghanaian international artist, urged the Ghanaian media to look critically at the country’s culture and create wealth out of it through art.

He said historical sites like James Town in Accra should be designated as heritage sites.