Caveat Emptor: PLEASE DISREGARD THE DATE ON THE PHOTOS
1. Cross Section of the audience
2.The Hightable: Dejumo Lewis, Hyccinth Obunseh (ANA), Deji Etiwe (NANTAP), Kolade Osinowo (SNA) Chairman of the meeting); and Jide Kosoko, President ANTP
3. Another cross section of the audience with the painter, poet, Chinwe Uwatse and Mrs Yetunde Aina of Jadeas Trust
4. From Left, former Administrator National Theatre, Dr Taiwo Ogunade, Steve James (GOND), Adebayo Salami (ANTP), Mufu Onifade, convener ,
5 Mufu Onifade, welcoming the meeting
COMMUNIQUE OF THE MEETING OF ALL MEMBERS OF SECTORAL ARTS BODIES UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF COALITION OF NIGERIAN ARTIST(E)S (CONA) AND STAKEHOLDERS HELD ON TUESDAY 21ST AUGUST, 2007 AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE, IGANMU, LAGOS.
1. Commendation of the Artists’ Community: The meeting commended and re-affirmed the concerted efforts of the Nigerian arts and culture Sector in the protest against the concession of the National Theatre by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE).
2. Affirmation of the CONA Platform: The Meeting adopted the approval the Coalition of Nigerian artist(e)s under the aegis of CONA with a view to creating a united front to, among other things:
In the immediate term:
sustain the opposition to the concession of the National Theatre employing such media as one-minute adverts in feature films and reflection of campaigns against concession of National Theatre in body of work espoused in Nigerian films, plays and art exhibition.
conceptualise, articulate and propose to the Government a feasible action plan for the resuscitation of the National Theatre and its operations under a regime of governance and management that accords with internationally-acceptable standards; and
Employ legal options to restate and insist of Government responsibility to the Culture Sector
On the long run:
(i) Serve as a platform for the articulation of common agenda for the art and culture sector including the adoption of a National Cultural Policy, the establishment of the National Endowment for the Art.
(ii) Establish common fora to secure the welfare of arts and culture workers.
3. Restatement of Opposition to the National Theatre Concession: The Meeting restates the opposition of the entire art and culture community to the transfer of the National Theatre to a private concern noting as follows:
(i) The National Theatre is Nigeria’s national cultural centre
(ii) All over the world, human communities, including nations, states, cities and other communities set up official cultural centres to:
signalize the community’s cultural arrival;
embody its artistic values;
showcase its artifacts; and
incubate the progressive development of its creative expressions.
Because of the importance of the foregoing roles of a national cultural centre, national cultural centres are never:
Left in the hands of public bureaucracies without specialized training and hands-on experience in facility management and the business of art and entertainment venues; nor
concessioned to private entities to govern and operate;
operated with a view to profit
(Refer to the governance and operations of The Kennedy Centre for the Performing Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Barbican, Carnegie Hall etc)
Need for the Resuscitation of the National Theatre: The Meeting acknowledges the need for the resuscitation of the National Theatre for the fulfillment of its mandate as the Nigerian national cultural centre and the centre of arts and performances in the black world, as was conceived during the Festival of African Art and Culture (FESTAC). In this regard, the Meeting proposes the following:
That the Federal Government should review the proposed concession of the National Theatre;
a study group of stakeholders and experts should be commissioned to analyse the nature and structure of successful Public Private Participation in the operation and funding of National Cultural Centres world-wide and the appropriate legal and other frameworks for such a PPP established before inviting private participation under the framework. The framework shall define the roles and responsibility of (1) The State, (2) The Business Community and (3) The Art community in the sustenance of the National Theatre;
The adopted PPP model should delineate between the management and governance of the National Theatre by handing the governance of the Theatre over to a publicly sanctioned Trust constituted by reputable artist(e)s, art connoisseurs, business men and statesmen under an enabling national legislation;
The governing Trust should be empowered to define and oversee the margin of commerciality and profitability permissible in the operation of the Theatre, having regard to the need to maintain a balance between our national cultural interests and the commercial necessities of the private participation, especially in view of the funds expected to be mobilised for the resuscitation work;
Also, the governing Trust, working with the management, should be empowered to mobilise funds from private endowments, corporate tax-deductible sources, and government budgetary sources, to subsidise the operations of the Theatre;
The management, of course, should be concessioned to qualified private entities with demonstrable interest in the Arts and capacity to resuscitate the Theatre.
Cooperation & Participation of the Art Community: The Meeting agrees that the Nigerian art and culture community should actively participate in the processes for the conceptualization, articulation and implementation of the appropriate model for the productive resuscitation of the National Theatre.
6. Enlightenment of the Art Community: The Meeting agrees that a vigorous campaign of enlightenment should be carried out within the generality of the arts and culture community with a view to clarifying the position of the Coalition under the aegis of CONA and in reinforcing the position of the Coalition as the current campaign gets underway. Such enlightenment shall be carried out through regular All-Stakeholders’ meetings and through the different Sectoral groups.
Avenues for Pushing the Artists’ collective Agenda: The Meeting agrees that this Communiqué and a position paper containing detailed proposal of the art community should be prepared and forwarded to:
The President;
The National Assembly;
The Minister of Culture;
Governor of Lagos State;
Lagos State House of Assembly; and
The Press.
Signed today the __ day of __________________, 2007
Kolade Oshinowo (Society of Nigerian Artists) __________________________________
Hyacinth Obunseh (Association of Nigerian Authors) ___________________________________
Biodun Abe (National Association of Nigerian Theatre Art Practitioners) __________________________________
Steve James (Guild of Nigerian Dancers) ___________________________________
Jahman Anikulapo (Committee for Relevant Art) ____________________________________
Jide Kosoko (Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners) ____________________________________
Ejike Asiegbu (Actors’ Guild of Nigeria) _____________________________________
Mufu Onifade (Convener) _____________________________________
AUGUST 11 MEETING Of HEADS OF ASSOCIATIONS
Photos:
CAVEAT EMPTOR: PLEASE DISREGARD DATE ON PHOTO
Images recorded at the heads of Artists Associations meeting at CORA HOUSE, 95 Bode Thomas Street, Surulere Lagos towar
onvening of an Artists Stakeholders meeting on the proposd sale/concesssion of the National Theatre:
Photo 1: from left (slightly backing camera) Mufu Onifade (convener of the meeting), Hyccinth Obunseh (representing ANA), Biodun Abe (President NANTAP), Kolade Osinowo (President SNA),Steve James (Chairman Guild of Nigerian Dancers, GOND)
2. Jide Kosoko, President Association of Nigeria Theatre Practitioners, ANTP; Deji Toye (CORA, Director Legal Services), with Ejike Asiegbu (President Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN)
3. Convener of meeeting, Mufu Onifade, Obunseh (ANA Publicity Secretary), Abe, (NANTAP) and Oshinowo (SNA
5. Onifade and CORA Programme Chairman, jahman Anikulapo
NATIONAL THEATRE: COALITION OF NIGERIAN ARTISTS CONVENE STAKEHOLDERS's MEETING
On Tuesday August 21 at 10AM, a conference of stakeholders in the Arts, Culture and Tourism sectors will hold in the Banquet hall of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The main objective is to further deliberate on the proposed Sale/Concession of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
The Conference is sequel to a meeting of heads of sectoral bodies of Nigeria Artists, which met on August 11 on the platform of the Coalition of Nigerian Artists as convened by Mr. Mufu Onifade and Mr. Biodun Abe among others (see communique below).
You will recall that same Coalition of Nigerian Artists (CONA) had staged a massive protest few weeks back in the precinct of the Theatre complex, to protest the announced Concession/sale of the National Theatre.
Please assist in announcing the meeting in your various mediums as well as giving maximum exposure to the content of the resolutions at the August 11 meeting even as you grace the event with your esteemed presence or send a representative.
Communique of the Meeting of
Heads of Sectoral Bodies of Nigerian Artists
under the Umbrella of Coalition of Nigerian Artists (CONA)
Held on Saturday 11th August, 2007 at 11 a.m.
at CORA Secretariat, 95, Bode Thomas Street , Surulere, Lagos
Commendation of the Artists' Community: The Meeting commended the concerted efforts of the Nigerian art and culture community in the protest against the concession of the National Theatre by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) noting, with delight, the public debate that has been generated by the protest, the overall tone of which suggests that the public opposes the transfer of the National Theatre to any private concern under the guise of concession or howsoever otherwise termed.
Affirmation of the CONA Platform: The Meeting approved the cooperation of Nigerian artists under the aegis of CONA with a view to creating a united front to, among other things:
In the immediate term -
o sustain the opposition to the concession of the National Theatre; and
o conceptualise, articulate and propose to the Government an a feasible action plan for the resuscitation of the National Theatre and its operations under a regime of governance and management that accords with internationally-acceptable standards; and
On the long run -
o serve as a platform for the articulation of common agenda for the art and culture sector including the adoption of a National Cultural Policy, the establishment of the National Endowment for the Art as well as the establishment of common fora to secure the welfare of arts and culture workers.
Restatement of Opposition to the Concession of the National Theatre: The Meeting restates the opposition of the entire art and culture community to the transfer of the National Theatre to a private concern noting as follows:
The National Theatre is Nigeria 's national cultural centre;
All over the world, human communities, including nations, states, cities and other communities set up official cultural centres to:
o signalize the community's cultural arrival;
o embody its artistic values;
o showcase its artifacts; and
o incubate the progressive development of its creative expressions.
Because of the importance of the foregoing roles of a national cultural centre, national cultural centres are never:
o Left in the hands of public bureaucracies without specialized training and hands-on experience in facility management and the business of art and entertainment venues; nor
o concessioned to private entities to govern and operate;
o operated with a view to profit
(Refer to the governance and operations of The Kennedy Centre for the Performing Art, Smithsonian Institution, The Barbican, Carnegie Hall etc)
Need for the Resuscitation of the National Theatre:
The Meeting acknowledges the need for the resuscitation of the National Theatre for the fulfillment of its mandate as the Nigerian national cultural centre and the centre of arts and performances in the black world, as was conceived during the Festival of African Art and Culture (FESTAC). In this regard, the Meeting proposes the following:
That the Federal Government should review the proposed concession of the National Theatre;
a study group of stakeholders and experts should be commissioned to analyse the nature and structure of successful public private participation in the operation and funding of National Cultural Centres world-wide and the appropriate legal and other frameworks for such a PPP established before inviting private participation under the framework. The framework shall define the roles and responsibly of (1) The State, (2) The Business Community and (3) The Art community in the sustenance of the National Theatre;
The adopted PPP model should delineate between the management and governance of the National Theatre by handing the governance of the Theatre over to a publicly sanctioned Trust constituted by reputable artists, art connoisseurs, business men and statesmen under an enabling national legislation;
The governing Trust should be empowered to define and oversee the margin of commerciality and profitability permissible in the operation of the Theatre, having regard to the need to maintain a balance between our national cultural interests and the commercial necessities of the private participation, especially in view of the funds expected to be mobilised for the resuscitation work;
Also, the governing Trust, working with the management, should be empowered to mobilise funds from private endowments, corporate tax-deductible sources, and government budgetary sources, to subsidise the operations of the Theatre;
The management should be concessioned to qualified private entities with demonstrable interest in the Arts and capacity to resuscitate the Theatre in line with the overall national cultural policy.
Cooperation & Participation of the Art Community: The Meeting agrees that the Nigerian art and culture community should actively participate in the processes for the conceptualization, articulation and implementation of the appropriate model for the productive resuscitation of the National Theatre.
Enlightenment of the Art Community: The Meeting agrees that a vigorous campaign of enlightenment should be carried out within the generality of the art and culture community with a view to clarifying the position of the coalition under the aegis of CONA and in reinforcing the position of the coalition as the current campaign gets underway. Such enlightenment shall be carried out through regular All-Stakeholders' meetings and through the different Sectoral groups (the first of which has been billed for Tuesday 21st August, 2007).
In attendance:
1. Kolade Oshinowo (Society of Nigerian Artists, SNA)
2. Hyacinth Obunseh (Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA)
3. Biodun Abe (National Association of Nigerian Theatre Art
Practitioners, NANTAP)
4. Steve James (Guild of Nigerian Dancers)
5. Jide Kosoko (Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners)
6. Ejike Asiegbu (Actors' Guild of Nigeria, AGN)
7. Jahman Anikulapo (Committee for Relevant Art, CORA)
8. Deji Toye (CORA)
9. Mufu Onifade (Member ANA, SNA, NANTAP Convener)
Sgd: MUFU ONIFADE
o on behalf of CONA, Convener of the Stakeholders' meeting .
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