The Ghana Association of Visual Artists (GAVA) has held a National Executive mini-conference aimed at galvanising its members across the country.

The conference was also to appreciate the business of art as the Association forges ahead to salvage the image of the profession.

The conference was held on the theme: ‘GAVA across the sands of time’.

The event brought together National and Regional Executives of the Association including stakeholders in the Arts fraternity to reflect on the contributions of the Association in the creative economy of Ghana and to build membership capacity while empowering same as mandated by its Constitution.

The Association is currently embarking on a membership drive across the country. Membership of the Association in some regions has been re-organised.

The coming together of delegates from designated regions including Ashanti, Eastern, Central and Greater Accra for the event was to reflect on the last decade, assess the Association’s activities and incorporate new ideas and people in its work.

President of GAVA, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong, who conveyed the above information in his address said sustaining the Association for over a quarter of a century amidst major challenges is an achievement. 

“GAVA’s contributions in Ghana, stimulating national interest and appreciation of visual arts, fostering creativity amongst Ghanaians, assisting and encouraging the training of visual Artists, developing, preserving and promoting visual artists are legendary” he said as he paid tribute to its founding members.

Nana Owoahene Acheampong also enumerated some modest achievements chalked by the Association since its inception.

Notable among them are: GAVA-Shell National Competition (2005/2006), Ghana-Korea Art Exhibition-2003, GAVA Month Art Exhibitions at the National Museum-2012 till date, Ghana-Iran Workshops and Exhibitions 2013-2015, Copyright Seminar-Accra (2015)-Kumasi (2017) and GAVA’s membership of International Association of Art (IAA) in 2015 for which it celebrated the 1st and 2nd World Art Day in 2016 and 2017 respectively with a mural painting at the Arts Centre.

Welcoming delegates to the conference, General Secretary of GAVA, Mr Lawrence K. Agyeman described the event as significant in the Association’s calendar as it brought together members to fraternize in a bid to develop the capacity of Artists.

The conference was chaired by Dr G. Kwesi Annoh, Chairman, COPYGHANA who described the theme as timely and charged Artists to make good use of the time.

Mr Akunu Dake, Vice Chairperson/Co-Convener of the Ghana Cultural Forum (GCF) commended GAVA for meeting to discuss the critical issues of the Association in a bid to promote the industry.

He urged the Association to continue to advocate for mainstreaming culture in National development observing that Arts and Culture are still on the peripheral “as we contemplate and prosecute the agenda for national development.”