Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri
Gov. Diri’s aide calls for more investment in arts to drive devt
Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Tourism to Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa on Friday said that art tourism can be deployed to revive economies.
Kiyaramo noted that art tourism is a form of travel that revolves around artistic and cultural activities, in touristic or historical settings, informing that arts and culture depict the life of a people.
Kiyaramo, a renowned tourism expert spoke during a visit to the Bayelsa government approved gallery, Macaualay Eteli Art Gallery (MEA Gallery), located at the Oxbow Lake, Swali-Yenagoa.
He appealed to public and private sectors, including the multinational oil corporations and well-meaning individuals to invest in arts and culture, pointing out that arts epitomise societal values, guiding philosophy and evolution of its civilisation.
He explained that museums, galleries, festivals and sculpture installations have become the primary motivation for a large number of tourists who are drawn away from other places to art destinations, adding that the art gallery audience has become an important element for the future of art from the market generation perspective.
Kiyaramo also noted that while art impacts cultural tourism, cultural heritage and tourism also work as marketing tools for arts in a co-supporting way, adding that the coming together of art and culture has societal benefits such as boosting tourism in several communities across the globe when properly planned and managed.
According to the governor’s aide, art tourism offers unique travel experiences as well as contributing to conservation efforts and re-appropriation of cultural spaces that might have otherwise been lost, explaining that art tourism translates to exploring historical sites, museums, galleries, towns or exhibits with a fresh perspective.
Kiyaramo said art tourism, as a creative form of tourism, fosters sustainable economic development in host communities, leading to the enrichment of both travellers and the communities, saying that it offers a unique, sustainable and rewarding travel experience that combines cultural exploration, creativity and the preservation of historical heritage.
“Apart from attracting visitors, art galleries also create a platform for promoting social and environmental awareness, while preserving historical structures and creating participatory space for tourists to see artists perform on locations as well,” Kiyaramo said
Earlier, Mr Macaulay Eteli, Chief Executive Officer and Curator, art gallery said MEA Gallery which was opened to the public on March 4, will serve as a tourists destination for local, national, and international visitors as centre for excellence in visual art, with a view to running mentorship programmes for children, students and adults alike in fine art drawing, painting and sculpting.
Eteli stated that viewing art reduces stress and increases brain power to assimilate information better.
“Viewing art is relaxing and also helps you to mind-travel to different places without leaving your home. Creating art or viewing art reduces stress and increases brain power.”
“MEA gallery welcomes film makers to shoot and premier their movies for a fee. We intend to preserve two in-gallery group exhibitions annually, presenting one outdoor art exhibition annually at a minimal cost to exhibitors and entry for the visitors,” Eteli said.
A member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Bayelsa chapter, Ms. Kariyai Ingo, commended Eteli for setting up the art gallery in Yenagoa, adding that the gallery would provide a space to groom upcoming artists as well as enhance the appeal and aesthetic value of the state capital being a good site for shooting of movies.
