Why we launched virtual gallery for artists
“Art635 is a foremost online repository of African artworks which Guarnty Trust bank (GTB) has launched to serve as a leading platform for the promotion of indigenous artists across the continent. It is also meant to re-ignite interest in African art with focus on how this can drive the growth and development of the local art industry.
Speaking at the launch, the virtual gallery curator, Uche
Okpa-Iroha, said: “At the moment, most budding indigenous artists in Nigeria and across Africa have little or nowhere to showcase their works and make a substantial living from their works.”
He also said: “We believe the gallery will significantly expand the exposure of these artists, provide an enabling platform for the marketing of their artistic skills and talents.”
According to Okpa-Iroha, the most important qualification any participant whose works will be showcased on the site must have is to be an artist. He however said being an artist does not mean expressed acceptability of all manners of works as the organizers will have in place Art635 board that will always screen and ensure that not only are qualitative works submitted, but that they conform to societal values, culture and tradition.
“With your works you can be provocative. By being provocative, I mean you can use it to steer conversation or a public discourse. In other works, your works must speak the truth to power, promote culture and tradition and most importantly, you can be descent with your works. That’s you do not produce works that can cause societal upheavals or promote vulgarity,” Okpa-Iroha said.
Programme anchor and a staff of GTB, Tolulope Onipede said the flexibility that comes with the usage of Art635 is such that an artist can upload his or her work to the virtual gallery from the comfort of his home or workplace.
She said: “When your work is uploaded and it earns attention and attracts patronage, we won’t be sharing your proceed with you because it is part of our corporate social responsibility. You will sell directly to whosoever wants to buy from you. Yours is to work, ours is to use our platforms to promote such work for free. We plan to convey a workshop for all artists on how all of these will be working out soon.
“Already we have uploaded 102 artworks but I can tell you that the website has limitless capacity to contain as many works of arts as possible. What we plan to do is to feature one artist per week,” Onipede said.
Also speaking, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr Segun Agbaje said ART635 will serve as an avenue to unlock creative potentials and expand opportunities for art education as well as broaden the reach and viewership of the work of indigenous artists.
A creative artist, Biodun Molayo, who addressed other artists on the business opportunities abound in the industry, said with the platform already provided by GTB, it has become imperative for all artists to up the ante in the manner and style of production, relationship with customers, public relations strategies, have right partners, create visibility for works produced, engage in community services, engage in purposeful politics and cultivate habit of savings.
“All of these are tips that make businesses grow. But most importantly, I will advise younger artists to work with older ones and learn from them. If younger artists take the older ones as mentors, they will excel in the industry,” he said.
Another artist, Sam Ovraiti described the meeting as a purposeful one that has gone ahead to challenge their creativities and repositioned them for the challenges ahead.
“We are very grateful to the bank for the opportunities and we can only hope that this platform becomes a turning point in our life and profession and is maximized to the fullest,” Ovraiti said.