Alabi advocates establishment of foundation for visual arts

A visual artist, Seyi Alabi has called on the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) to establish a foundation to foster the development of visual arts in the country.

Alabi made the call in an interview with our reporter on Monday in Lagos.

He said that there were some international NGOs already fostering such initiatives and urged local visual artists to organise themselves for their common good.

“SNA establishing foundation will attract grants that can enhance the development of the nation’s visual arts sector.

“If SNA establishes a foundation, it will be easier for the government to identify with them and assist them,’’ he said.

The artist said that people in the art sector were trying to do a lot to attract government attention for creating an endowment fund for the arts.

“The association on the other hand, has to do its home work well to make it work.

“They have been campaigning for the endowment and I believe that one day, the government will listen and do the needful for the arts to grow.

“We really need the growth of the art and the awareness creation for people to know the importance of art.’’

Alabi also called for the staging of more international art exhibitions in the country.

He lamented that since Nigeria hosted FESTAC in 1977, there had not been any strategic focus in the country’s arts and culture.

The artist also urged the Federal Government to consider the country’s visual arts sector in its annual budgets, lamenting that the sector was left out in the 2017 budget.

“The arts cannot grow in Nigeria without government’s support.

“We are talking about change but without grants from government, artists cannot bring about the desired change in the country,’’ he said.

It was reported that Alabi, popularly known as “Sheyi Pencilz’’ holds a diploma in Computer Engineering from APTECH Computer Education Centre, Lagos in 2013.

He presents everyday imagery of children playing or reading and has recently started a series on the negative effects of domestic violence on children.