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The National
Gallery of Art a.k.a NGA was established as a parastatal in the
Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism by an Enabling Act
(Decree No.86 of 1993) in fulfillment of the provisions of
Nigeria’s Cultural Policy of 1988 and in accordance with the
recommendation of the committee of patrons of the World Decade
for Cultural Development.
The Enabling Act provided for the citing of its headquarters at
Abuja, FCT with offices in other States of the Federation. At
the moment, it has established its presence in Lagos, Oshogbo,
Uyo, Umuahia, Port Harcourt, Abakaliki, Igbo-Ukwu, Maiduguri,
Minna, Lafia and Sokoto. Efforts are on hand to do the same in
other States of the Federation.
At the apex of
the organization is the Director-General, Mr. Joe Musa assisted
by five Directors / Heads of Departments namely; Department of
Curatorial Services, Department of Education / National Hall of
Fame ,
Department of Research and Publications (Mr. Kweku Tandor),
Department of Finance and Accounts (Mr. O.O. Ogunba) and
Department of Administration and Supplies (Mr. Abdullahi Mukson).
Presently, the NGA is assisting the National Council for Museums
and Monument.
The Vision
and Mission statements of the organization are as represented
below:-
VISION
 To serve as a
repository for artistic creation since the birth of Nigeria as a
nation and to promote research, education and appreciation in
art and works of art.
MISSION
The systematic
collection, preservation, research, display, interpretation and
appreciation of works of art representing the creative spirit of
the peoples of Nigeria and Nigerians in diaspora.
DEPARTMENTS
At take off as
parastatal, the Gallery had three departments namely
Administration and Finance, Research and Documentation and
Curatorial Services each superintended by a Head of Department
under the leadership of the Director. But following the
upgrading of the Gallery’s status there was a restructuring of
the Organization with a view to attaining greater performance
and achievement of objectives, leading to the creation of five
departments each headed by a Director with clearly defined but
interrelated schedule under the leadership of the
Director-General / Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO), Mr. Joe
Musa.
The
Departments are: -
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Curatorial Services
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National Hall of Fame & Education
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Research and Publications
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Finance & Accounts
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Administration and Supplies
 The first
three Departments represent the core and professional thrust of
the organization while the last two are ancillary or service
Departments. There are also the Audit, Public Relations /
Protocol and Legal Units under the office of the
Director-General.
The Department
of Curatorial Services is charged with the responsibility of
acquiring, documenting, promoting and propagating art works and
visual artists in Nigeria. It also handles the mounting of
exhibitions nationally and internationally for the organization.
The Department
of Education and National Hall of Fame is responsible for the
educational activities in the agency such as Saturday Art Club,
Guided tours, etc. It is also responsible for identifying and
researching into personalities that would qualify for induction
into the Hall of Fame.
The Department
of Research and Publications is responsible for researching into
the different aspects and forms of art and their practitioners.
It also involves itself in publications both within and outside
the organization.
The Department
of Finance and Accounts as the name suggests is charged with
managing the finances of the organization as it relates to
receipts, disbursement, etc.
The Department
of Administration and Supplies is responsible for the general
administration of the organization as it relates to
appointments, promotions, discipline and other sundry
administrative issues. It also has the responsibility of
articulating the needs of the organization as it relates to
furniture, equipment and other materials with a view to
superintending over their supplies.
PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES
The programmes
and activities of the organization are as stated below:
a. Annual
Independence Anniversary Exhibition.
b. Talent Hunt of pupils and students in Nursery, Primary
and Secondary Schools as well as Tertiary Institutions in the
Fine and Applied Arts on the occasion of the Children’s Day
Celebration on May 27 every year.
c. Annual K-12 Art Teachers’ Summer Workshop for visual art
teachers, art collectors, art students, art desk journalists,
etc., in collaboration with the Centre for African Studies, Ohio
State University, USA with whom the organization has a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). It is a train the trainers
workshop for the above category of target groups which started
in 2001.
d. Annual Distinguished Lectures
e. Grants and Sponsorship for Artists
f. Consultancy Services to MDAs on exhibition
matters.
g. Consultative
status to the Nigerian Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).
h. Saturday Art Club sessions and Skill
Acquisition Workshops in Painting, Bead, Batik and Tie and Dye
Adire making for house wives and youths in line with the NEEDS
and MDGs concepts of the Federal Government.
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