Chinese Government to support art and art craft industry (Thur. Dec 10, pg...)
The Chinese Embassy is to promote the Ghanaian art and craft industry through the exhibition of Ghanaian artefacts in China in a Chinese government partnership.
The embassy is also interested in joining forces with the government to encourage cultural exchange programmes that would further strengthen the ties between Ghana and China.
The Deputy Head of the Chinese Embassy, Mr Shiren Zhao, disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic at the 4th African Gift Fair which is underway in Accra on the theme: “African Renaissance Starts Today”.
The fair, which is mounted at the African Market at Osu and under the auspices of the African Art and Culture Development Company Limited (AACD), seeks to promote the use of indigenous arts and crafts as gift items for all occasions and also to reduce poverty by assisting local artists, especially those in the rural areas, to earn a decent living.
Mr Zhao indicated that the arts and crafts industry in Ghana could be packaged in such a way as to attract investment from China, thereby helping to create more jobs in both countries.
He stated that the venture would not only increase trade between the two countries but also increase the profit margins of the artist.
Mr Zhao expressed satisfaction with the items on display and pledged his support for the promotion of the industry.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AACD, Mr Stanley L. Felten, for his part said it was the aim of the AACD to ensure that local arts and craft manufacturers derived as much benefit from their products as possible, adding that as a result the products were bought directly from the locals and not middlemen, a means of reducing poverty and rural-urban migration.
He noted that the company’s innovation had gone a long way towards spearheading a cultural re-awakening among lovers of African artworks and created mentorship for artisans in the artefacts industry.
He indicated that the company would open branches in London, Johannesburg, Berlin and Shanghai, which would lead to the creation of more than 100,000 jobs.
A sculptor, Mr Ahmed B. Osmanu, appealed to the government to come to the aid of the art and craft industry as the financial crunch was making it difficult to exhibit Ghanaian arts and crafts around the world.
He urged Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of claims that the artefacts were possessed with spirits.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), Mr Julius Debrah, told the Daily Graphic in interview that arts and crafts formed part of measures to repackage the country as a tourist destination to the outside world.
He said the GTB was establishing Tourism Clubs in second cycle institutions across the country to inculcate the habit of vacation and sightseeing in the youth.
Mr Debrah disclosed that five to seven-year tax exemption incentives were available for investors interested in locating hotels in the rural areas.
Items on display at the 11-day fair included collections of traditional stools, bead necklaces, ceramics, handicrafts, drums, African clothing, footwear, painting and art works among other items.
Present at the fair were some members of parliament and Nana Sogloh Alloh III, Vice-President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs.
The embassy is also interested in joining forces with the government to encourage cultural exchange programmes that would further strengthen the ties between Ghana and China.
The Deputy Head of the Chinese Embassy, Mr Shiren Zhao, disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic at the 4th African Gift Fair which is underway in Accra on the theme: “African Renaissance Starts Today”.
The fair, which is mounted at the African Market at Osu and under the auspices of the African Art and Culture Development Company Limited (AACD), seeks to promote the use of indigenous arts and crafts as gift items for all occasions and also to reduce poverty by assisting local artists, especially those in the rural areas, to earn a decent living.
Mr Zhao indicated that the arts and crafts industry in Ghana could be packaged in such a way as to attract investment from China, thereby helping to create more jobs in both countries.
He stated that the venture would not only increase trade between the two countries but also increase the profit margins of the artist.
Mr Zhao expressed satisfaction with the items on display and pledged his support for the promotion of the industry.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AACD, Mr Stanley L. Felten, for his part said it was the aim of the AACD to ensure that local arts and craft manufacturers derived as much benefit from their products as possible, adding that as a result the products were bought directly from the locals and not middlemen, a means of reducing poverty and rural-urban migration.
He noted that the company’s innovation had gone a long way towards spearheading a cultural re-awakening among lovers of African artworks and created mentorship for artisans in the artefacts industry.
He indicated that the company would open branches in London, Johannesburg, Berlin and Shanghai, which would lead to the creation of more than 100,000 jobs.
A sculptor, Mr Ahmed B. Osmanu, appealed to the government to come to the aid of the art and craft industry as the financial crunch was making it difficult to exhibit Ghanaian arts and crafts around the world.
He urged Ghanaians to disabuse their minds of claims that the artefacts were possessed with spirits.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), Mr Julius Debrah, told the Daily Graphic in interview that arts and crafts formed part of measures to repackage the country as a tourist destination to the outside world.
He said the GTB was establishing Tourism Clubs in second cycle institutions across the country to inculcate the habit of vacation and sightseeing in the youth.
Mr Debrah disclosed that five to seven-year tax exemption incentives were available for investors interested in locating hotels in the rural areas.
Items on display at the 11-day fair included collections of traditional stools, bead necklaces, ceramics, handicrafts, drums, African clothing, footwear, painting and art works among other items.
Present at the fair were some members of parliament and Nana Sogloh Alloh III, Vice-President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs.
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