2014 UNESCO International Arts Education Week celebration in Nigeria

To succeed today and in the future, the children will need to be inventive, resourceful and imaginative. And the best way to foster that creativity is through arts education. ART SCOUT has realized the vital roles of Art teachers in the field of CREATIVE ART as they influence the next generation of creative minds and they also play major roles in developing the inspiration for many young artists to pursue career in the arts. The main reason ART SCOUT has continually provides resource and support for the Art teachers. Art education is a dynamic tool for growth in our developing world and an Art teacher remains the most important part of a great learning experience. In Barack Obama's speech announcing the new U.S. Global Development Policy at the United Nations on September 22, 2010, he stated: “To unleash transformational change, we’re putting a new emphasis on the most powerful force the world has ever known for eradicating poverty and creating opportunity. It’s the force that turned South Korea from a recipient of aid to a donor of aid. The force I’m speaking of is broad-based economic growth. We know that countries are more likely to prosper when they encourage entrepreneurship; … and we know that countries are more likely to prosper when they tap the talents of all their people”. We believe that arts education promotes creativity, encouraging the innovation and entrepreneurship Obama spoke of. Art education is a dynamic tool for growth in our developing world and there are not words as powerful as a single drawing, painting, mural, craft, photography, graffiti or graphics. More reasons why ART SCOUT has stayed committed to the support of Art Education for its benefits of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Behind everything we do is our mission: to bring continued resources and support to the advancement of art theory and practice in Nigeria. So when it is time to celebrate the UNESCO International Arts Education Week, ART SCOUT provided platform to engage the Nigerian Art teachers and created for them spotlight to show case their creative works within and outside the four wall of classroom. UNESCO International Arts Education Week was celebrated from Monday 19th to Sunday 25th in the month of May, 2014. It was the third of its kind. Following the success of the 2nd World Conference on Arts Education (25-28 May 2010, Seoul,), the 4th week of May of every year has been proclaimed as International Arts Education Week by UNESCO’s General Conference at its 36th session. The main objective of the International Arts Education Week is to increase the international community’s awareness on the importance of arts education by showcasing concrete arts education projects and practices and reinforcing cooperation with main stakeholders of arts education. We hosted the Art teachers in a virtual art exhibition. The virtual Art exhibition was to celebrate the UNESCO International Arts Education Week which conveyed the week’s theme, ART FOR PEACE, Art as a catalyst and springboard for social change. The exhibition features paintings, textile, sculpture, and other means of visual expression. The exhibition was unveiled to the global audience from May 19 online at; http://www.teachingvisualart.blogspot.com/2014/05/2014-unesco-international-arts.html The TELL Magazine published the story of the 2014 International Arts Education Week celebration in Nigeria on page five of No. 21, May 26, 2014. The article highlighted the events that were to be engaged by the Art teachers in their various schools during the week of celebration and the virtual Art exhibition for the art teachers. Mr. Adeniyi was on OGTV’s New Dawn programme on behalf of the Nigerian Art teachers to create awareness for the celebration of the International Arts Education Week and a discuss on the Importance of Art education on Friday 23rd May, 2014 by 9am. Some of Mr. Adeniyi quotes on the programme are below: "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." Albert Einstein "Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up", Pablo Picasso. The Art teachers within Abeokuta metropolis were converged on Wednesday 21st of May at the Art Studio of the Baptist Boys High School (Mission) for an Art exhibition organized by the school Art tutor, Mr. Adeniyi supported by ART SCOUT in celebration of the International Arts Education Week. The title of the exhibition was THE MAN OF PEACE which features paintings, drawings, and wearable arts produced by Mr. Adeniyi. He created series of art from a concept he made to epitomize Beautiful Nubia (a stage name for popular Nigerian music artist, Dr. Segun Akinlolu). Part of the designs were hand printed on a dyed and plain background sewn fabric (wearable art); and was also painted on canvas. For him, Beautiful Nubia is a man of peace and he has exhibited that several times through his songs. He has a lot of tracks from his albums (Jangbalajugbu, Awilele, Fere, Kilokilo, Sun no dey sleep, oriojori, and most recent Keere), songs that provide inspiration for love, peace and harmony. The Art exhibition was declared open by the school principal, Dn. Abel Adebajo. Apart from the Art teachers; NTA (Nigeria Television Authority) Abeokuta, BBHS students and students from other schools also grace the event. Dr. Segun Akinlolu (Beautiful Nubia) was at the exhibition. He ignited the exhibition and had a chat with the NTA, and the Art teachers at the Art Exhibition. His presence made the exhibition remarkable and the celebration of the 2014 International Arts Education Week a memorable one. The exhibition was televised on the NTA News on Monday 2nd of June, 2014. Here is a You-tube link: http://youtu.be/Sqa2RZg7rzw Get the recap (in images) of the UNESCO International Arts Education Week 2014 celebration in Nigeria here: https://www.facebook.com/olucolourful/media_set?set=a.10152521462891159.1073741852.724076158&type=3 We will like to say a big THANK YOU to our media partners, for their support, the TELL Magazine, NTA Abeokuta, and OGTV. We will like to also appreciate the Nigerian Art teachers and Dr. Segun Akinlolu (Beautiful Nubia) for honouring our invitation. And to all guests at the exhibition at BBHS, Abeokuta, we say THANK YOU!!! We all made history together, let’s do it again next year.