First Lady Calls On Corporate Community To Support Artists

First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo has called on the corporate community to assist Ghanaian artists to grow and maximise their inherent potential and sell the country through art.

“I believe that sometimes a piece of artwork can sell a country in ways that are simply unimaginable. It is no wonder that civilisation is closely tied with the arts,” she added.

As a great enthusiast of diverse works of art, Mrs Akufo-Addo mentioned that she believes when budding artists are assisted, “it will promote interest in the arts, boost the morale of artists and contribute to the 'Buy Ghana' campaign.”

The first lady was speaking at the opening of the Melcom Art Gallery, where she graced the occasion as the special guest of honour.

The Melcom Art Exhibition is an initiative being championed by the company and offering opportunities to budding artists to create works that can sell Ghana locally and on international platform.

The maiden edition, featuring Larry Otoo, a renowned Ghanaian artist who prefers to be identified as a contemporary traditionalist, is being held on the sub-theme: 'Our Culture, Our Music'.

He is to showcase his exhibits for four weeks at the free space being donated by Melcom, after which other identified artists will be given the platform to showcase their exhibits for two weeks period interval until the end of the year.

However, the main theme for the Melcom Art Exhibition is 'Art & Commerce', and it being organised in collaboration with Big Apples ART Gallery.

The first lady commended the effort of Melcom in giving artists a platform to display their work at no cost and called on other corporate body to assist in a similar regard.

She said because art connects to people at a very personal level, a good piece of artwork could give pleasure to many who truly appreciate art and produce a narrative that tells about times past, about civilisations and about the artist.

Mrs Akufo-Addo praised the artists whose works were on exhibition for maintaining originality and urged them to impart the knowledge to the youth.

Mr Mahesh Melwani, the joint managing director of Melcom Group of Companies, said the initiative was to offer a free space for artists to showcase their exhibits as a way of reviving the art industry and create more interest in the art.

He said Melcom would continue to play critical role in the socio-economic development of the nation by expanding its markets to most part of the country, thereby, helping create more employment opportunities to many Ghanaians.