From time to time, the Management of the Council, in line with the policy directives of government, undertakes pro-active efforts towards re-focusing, re-engineering and repositioning the Council for greater efficiency and productivity.  Subsequently, we have in recent times,  reviewed and re-evaluated our existing programmes and projects and re-aligned them to be in tune with the present democratic dispensation and the Government Reform Programme.  

Mission Statement

The National Council for Arts and Culture Shall be dedicated to the promotion and the preservation of the best of the living Arts and Cultures of the People of Nigeria using it as resources for national integration and unity as well as to serve as catalyst for sustainable growth and Development of the Nation. 

Vision

To use culture as a cornerstone for building a solid nation where the citizens shall see its cultural diversity as a source of strength. 

Functions of The Council

As highlighted in its enabling Decree No. 3 of 1975 amended by Decree No. 5 of 1987, the statutory functions of the Council are:

i.        To promote and foster the appreciation, revival and development of Nigeria=s Arts and Culture.

ii.       To plan and co-ordinate cultural activities in Nigeria and foster the development of Literary, Visual and Performing Arts in Nigeria.

iii.      To organize and promote exhibitions in Visual, Performing and Literary Arts as may be determined from time to time by the Honourable Minister.

iv.      To coordinate inter-state cultural exchange activities.

v.       To render assistance to states in the fields of Arts and Culture.

vi.      To promote the development of music, traditional dance, drama, opera, cinema, film, photography, folklore, oral tradition, literature, poetry, painting and general arts, woodwork, embroidery, weaving and similar crafts.

vii.     To assist the Antiquities Commission established under section 3 of the Antiquities Act in the location, acquisition and preservation of artistic works, cultural monuments and depositories.

viii.    To establish with the approval of the Honourable Minister, Cultural Centres, Theatre Arts, Galleries and Crafts centres for the promotion of Arts and Culture.

ix.      To establish for the purpose of carrying out its functions, the National Endowment Fund for the Arts.

x.       To enhance the preservation of all the materials on culture that contribute positively to the image and personality of Nigeria. 

Schedule of Duty

Based on the statutory functions of the Council, as stated in Decree No. 3 of 1975 and

amended by Decree No. 5 of 1987 the under-listed are the schedule of duty:-

I.                   Establishing specialized Research Centres/Craft Development Centres/ Herbal

          Gardens Projects across Nigeria.

ii.   Organizing the meeting of Chief Executives of Culture of the Federation (CEC)

iii.  Organizing the yearly National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST)

iv.  Organizing the NCAC Honours Lecture/Awards

v.   Organizing the National Culture Quiz Competition for Secondary Schools in

Nigeria 2^nd edition.

vi.  Organizing the Culture of Peace and Dialogue Forum for Secondary Schools

vii. Promoting our indigenous dress, cultural and textiles traditions.

viii. Promoting indigenous games.

ix.  Collaborating with relevant Non-Governmental Organizations and Consultancy services.

x.   coordinating inter-state cultural exchange activities

xi.  rendering assistance to the states in the fields of Arts and Culture

xii. promoting the development of literary, visual and performing arts.

xiii. Any other assignment given by the Honourable Minister. 

Administrative Structure

The enabling Decree establishing the Council makes provision for a Director, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and responsible for the day to day administration and execution of programmes and policies of the Council.

Departments and Units

In achieving the mandate of the organization, there are three statutory and four professional Departments while three Units exit under the Directorate. There are also ten (10) zonal offices spread across the country with specific areas of focus:

i.                     Statutory Departments

a.         Personnel Management

b.         Finance and Supplies

c.         Planning, Monitoring and Statistics 

ii.          Professional Departments

a.         Arts and Design

b.         Performing Arts

c.         Research and Documentation

d.         Curatorial Services 

iii.         Units

a.         Press and Public Relations

b.         Legal

c.         Internal Audit 

iv.         Zonal Offices

For effective community impact of Council=s activities, ten (10) zonal offices were established across the country.  Each Zonal Office has a specialised focus and outreach unique to the Arts and Culture of the area where it is located.  Below is the list of the zonal offices, states of coverage and areas of focus. 

Achievements in 2006

The Council has carried out the following during the year.

i.        Organized a National Exhibition on Crafts tagged ATapping our Hidden Treasures@ in Abuja from 28^th - 29^th March, 2006. 

ii.       Organized the 5^th NCAC Honours Lectures and Awards in Abuja on 30^th March, 2006.

iii.      Organized the 25^th Meeting of Chief Executives of Culture of the Federation Meeting in Asaba, Delta State from 10^th - 13^th May, 2006. 

iv.      Successfully participated at the 4^th National Council for Culture and Tourism Meeting (NCCT) at which two memos were presented and approved in Jalingo, Taraba State, from 15^th - 19^th May, 2006.

v.         The Reforms Implementation Committee of the Council successfully carried out its assignment: i.e staff auditing, listing of exiting staff and cost implications as well as proposing a new structure for the Council.  All matters pertaining to the reforms in the Council have been concluded and forwarded to the mother Ministry for further action since May, 2006.

vi.         In collaboration with the Social Development Secretariat Abuja, organized the 1^st FCT Traditional Wrestling Competition of the Area Councils from 29^th - 30^th June, 206.

vii.        Held three Board Meetings and Four Sub-Committee meetings respectively in the year (16^th February 2006 - to date).

viii.       Organized the 26^th Meeting of Chief Executives of Culture of the Federation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State from 17^th - 20^th July, 2006.

ix.         In collaboration with UNESCO, the National Council for Arts and Culture organized a National Workshop on Best Practices to Safeguard Endangered Nigerian Languages in Enugu, Enugu State on 3^rd August, 2006.

x.         Prepared and packaged the 20^th edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture on the theme ACulture, Job Creation and Youth Empowerment@ at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State from 16^th - 24^th September, 2006 (but was cancelled on 18^th during the official opening ceremony as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in the Airforce plane crash which occurred on the 17^th of September, 2006).

xi.         Organized the 2^nd National Culture Quiz Competition for Secondary Schools in Nigeria in Jos, Plateau State from 11^th  - 14^th October, 2006.

xii.        Commissioning of the Craft Development Centre at Lagos

The Council has of now established two out of its proposed four Crafts Development projects.  The Crafts Development Centres will provide opportunity for training of craftsmen and women, youth empowerment and serve as resource centres for the Poverty Alleviation Programme of the Federal Government.  The Crafts Development Centre in Lagos was commissioned in December, 2006.

xiii.       Commissioning of the Herbal Garden Project at Getso, Kano State

As part of its re-engineering effort, the Council successfully developed a Herbal Garden Project in Getso, Kano State as a pilot project for other gardens to be sited at Abakaliki and Benin respectively.  The gardens are proposed as conservatories for endangered species of herbs, shrubs and trees of medicinal, economic and social values among the people of Nigeria. When operational, the gardens are expected to serve as resource centres for traditional medicine practitioners, botanists, pharmacologists and researchers in  general.  Two out of the three Herbal Gardens are completed.  They are located at Getso in Kano State and Abina in Ebonyi State.  The Herbal Garden Project at Getso in Kano State was commissioned in December, 2006.