Arts come alive as Tate hosts ‘Across the Board’ project in Ghana

Tate is hosting a major symposium in Accra, Ghana, from 21-23 February 2013, which will explore the Ghanaian art scene, looking at local initiatives which have broadened their scope internationally.

 

This is the second in the four-part project entitled Across the Board, promoted by Tate, an institution that houses the UK's national collection of British Art, as well as International Modern and Contemporary Art.

It will partner with three local institutions in Ghana – Nubuke Foundation, the Dei Centre and the Art in Social Structures – to examine art as an engine for social transformation though the building of art networks and new institutions.

Institutions such as the National Museum of Ghana, the Foundation for Contemporary art - Ghana, in Accra and the College of Art and Social Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, will also be in focus.

 

The project is sponsored by Guaranty Trust Bank plc.

Over the past decade, non-state institutions and cultural platforms have occupied local art scenes in Africa producing new strategies to connect art and society, often beyond the remit of local government.

This symposium will invite local and international audiences to engage with artists and those working in the cultural arena from African cities such as Algiers, Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, Dakar and Nairobi.

Participants willinclude, among others, Aida Muluneh, Gabi Ngcobo, Kader Attia, Bernard Akoi-Jackson, Ato Annan, Rikki Wemega-Kwawu, Joe Osae-Addo, Kofi Setordji, Jimmy Ogonga and Nana Ofori Atta-Ayim.

A programme of film screenings will take place at the Dei Centre for the Study of Contemporary African on 23 February where artist, Senam Okudzeto will introduce a programme dedicated to the work Black Audio Film Collective.

The event in Ghana will explore emerging networks in Africa, encourage professional development in the arts and will foster long-term conversation on the impact of collectiveness and the arts on social change.

Across the Board was launched in November 2012 at Tate Modern - curated by Elvira Dyangani Ose of Curator International Art.

The project consists of a series of events exploring recent artistic practices in Africa.

Raising questions on the politics of representation, institution building, public space or public sphere, and interdisciplinary practices, it will contribute to local expertise and networks when it takes place in three cities in Africa in 2013 and 2014: Accra in Ghana, Douala in Cameroon and Lagos in Nigeria.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh