REPORT:

2015 UNESCO International Arts Education Week

THE CELEBRATION IN

NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA

www.teachingvisualart.blogspot.com

INTRODUCTION 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.

This is the report of TEACHING VISUAL ART’s activities during the celebration of the 2015 UNESCO International Arts Education Week in Nigeria. At TEACHING VISUAL ART, we are taking the art education of the Nigerian children seriously and we are interested in the advancement of the frontline of art education in Nigeria, and in the continent of Africa. TEACHING VISUAL ART is a creative social enterprise that provides diver platform for promoting, encouraging artistic engagements and to increase the community’s awareness on the importance of arts education. TEACHING VISUAL ART is a strong advocate of Art as a means of unlocking innovation and creativity, and dedicated to serve children from various backgrounds and culture. It is committed to the support of Art Education for its benefits of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The social enterprise is registered with CRBN Number 419664 under the Companies and Allied Matters Act of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Its projects are endorsed by InSEA (www.insea.org). We have packaged this report with the hope of providing inspiration for the Nigerian Art teachers; encourage Art engagements in schools and to orientate the Nigerian populace on the importance of Art; and to change the ugly perception of the society towards Art. Contrary to a lot of peoples’ opinion, Arts education is vital to a child development, and not only for the gifted and talented ones. It is not just about mere drawing and producing works of art but has a lot of benefits. Here are the key advantages of Art education to our children’s education and personal growth: I.

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Art is a core key in child’s development, an embodiment of total learning. Art education exposes the child to variety of learning experiences comprising of social, cognitive, moral, intellectual and physical. Art nurtures a child’s imagination, versatility, self-awareness, motivation, confidence and independent. Art increase the child’s intellectual capacity to observe, create, and understand. Art is a fundamental medium that helps children develop a sense of expression, communication and creativity and lots more.

We are hoping that the Art teachers across the length and breadth of Nigeria will embrace the platform of the UNESCO International Arts Education week to advance the art appreciation and artistic engagements. The next celebration comes up between May 23 and 29, 2016. TEACHING VISUAL ART will continue to make effort to get Art education into schools especially school with no art teachers and art studio, also to provide continued support to the advancement of art education and art appreciation in Nigeria.

THE 2015 UNESCO INTERNATIONAL ARTS EDUCATION WEEK THE CELEBRATION IN NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA The 2015 UNESCO International Arts Education week was celebrated across the globe between Monday 25th and Sunday 31st of May, 2015.The theme was Arts Education for Sustainable Development. That was the fourth edition; children from around the world explored topics such as: biodiversity, climate change, cultural diversity, poverty reduction, gender equality, health promotion, sustainable lifestyles, peace, and water sustainable urban development. 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. In Nigeria, the celebration of the UNESCO International Arts Education week coincided with the Children’s Day celebration on May 27 and Democracy Day on May 29. During the global Arts Education week, the TEACHING VISUAL ART, an Art initiative outfit created series of awareness on Art education as a dynamic tool for growth in our developing world. 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, Arts Education for Sustainable Development, Art as a catalyst and springboard for social change and sustaining development. The exhibition features paintings, sculpture, and other means of visual expression. The exhibition was unveiled to the global audience on May 25 online at www.teachingvisualart.blogspot.com On Tuesday 26th of May, the Art Director of TEACHING VISUAL ART, Prince Olusegun Adeniyi was invited on OGTV’s programme, NEW DAWN/OTUN OJO to provide the Nigerian populace with rich arts education content during the celebration. TEACHING VISUAL ART also supported an art engagement and exhibition at the BBHS Mission, Abeokuta where the boys created Recycled Collage balls produced from the Nigeria’s last election political posters. These posters are now considered waste because the elections are gone, but at the BBHS’s Art studio, they have been turned into beautiful art works.

THE EVENTS 2015 UNESCO International Arts Education Week: NIGERIAN ART TEACHERS’ VIRTUAL ART EXHIBITION The roles of Art teachers are vital in the field of CREATIVE ART because 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. That’s why we have engaged the Art teachers during the week to provide platform and spotlight to show case their creative works within and outside the four walls of classroom. The virtual Art exhibition of visual arts was to celebrate the UNESCO International Arts Education Week which conveyed the week’s theme, Arts Education for Sustainable Development, Art as a catalyst and springboard for social change and sustaining development. The exhibition features paintings, sculpture, and other means of visual expression. The exhibition was unveiled to the global audience on May 25 online at www.teachingvisualart.blogspot.com Last year edition of the UNESCO International Arts Education Week’s virtual exhibition could be viewed at: http://teachingvisualart.blogspot.com/2014/05/2014-unesco-international-arts.html It was also published on the Nigerian weekly magazine, TELL magazine on page 5 of May 26, 2014. We also produced stickers and given out to participating Art teachers as souvenirs.

Below are the works that were featured online (the Virtual Art Exhibition) during the celebration of the 2015 International Arts Education Week with the Art teachers’ name, School, title of works, and the medium.

Art teachers name: Olaleye S. Olatunde Name of school: Grace Schools, Gbagada Title of work: Renaissance: The Birth Of New Creation Media: Water Colour Short description of work: This is a piece of an art work depict in water colour, describing the rebirth of creativity in the speck of modern art in diverse means, method and wide scope of creativity in advent of fast effect of growing global technology on the works of Art.

Art teachers: Ighorodje Splendour Name of school: Henry Alex-Duduyemi Memorial College Title of Work: Evergreen Heritage Media: water colour Work description: Art as a self affirming cultural activity can contribute to changing us and sustaining our world in a sustainable way. Meeting our present needs by burning wood to produce energy for food is necessary but our cultural identity and values can be imprinted and engraved for the future to see and be educated. Traditional sculptors like Lamidi Fakeye has preserved culture and reinforced our identity in his works. The future can learn and be educated through our evergreen heritage which has been preserved for sustainable Development.

Hodonu Nathaniel Badagry

Art teacher- Oluwafunmilayo Arabambi Name of school- Juilliard Academy, Lagos Title of work-The maid Media Acrylic on canvas Short description of work - The painting titled "the maid" is done in acrylic. it depicts the beauty in femininity. It shows strength, focus and the passion that lie in a woman.

Artist: Ekpo Ransome J. Name of School: Chrisland High School, Ikeja, Lagos. Title of Work: Deep thought for peace. Media: Guache Short description of work: This is a painting of "The Thinker", done in digital form.

Name: Edessy Lawrence Name of school: Lead City High School, Jericho, Ibadan Title of work: Eniyan laso mi.. Art evolves, fashion evolves. In this work, daily chores of a rural woman’s life are portrayed using textile style motifs intertwined. Eniyan laso mi, means people are my clothing literarily, we are what we are worth by the value of friends we have... Same way clothes cover our nakedness. Thus art is never useful if not functional.

Artist: Uchenwoke. L. Chidozie

Name of School: The Centagon international school, Abuja. Title of Work: morning visions. Media: Oil on canvas.

Short description of work: The maids looking forward to expectation from sales. What does the day hold down there in town?

Art Teacher's Name:- AWOTUNDE ADELEYE Name of School:- IKOGA JUNIOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL, IKOGAZEBBE , BADAGRY Title of Work:- 'I MUST GET THERE' Media:- CANOE SOAP

Artist: Olusegun Michael, Adeniyi Name of School: BBHS Mission, Oke-Saje, Abeokuta, Ogun State Title of Work: Ayan (Drummers) Media: Oil on Canvas Short description of work: This is a painting of "DRUMMERS”, it is to showcase the Yoruba cultural heritage.

Art teachers name: Biyi Adeleye, Name of school: Saje High School (Junior), Abeokuta

Art teachers name: Vincent lgho Name of school: Greensprings Sch. Lekki campus, Lagos Title of work: Housing for all (Govt promised that Nigerians will own their own homes, but sadly.......)

Artist: Temitope Austin

School: Seaba Model Christian College, Akure Ondo State Title of work: Serenity Media: Crayon and ink, etching

Description: A serene, quiet and peaceful environment with someone resting in between the two plam trees by the shore. Peace and Unity gives room for development.

Art teacher name: Omovo Ayoola O.

Name of school: lycée franca is Louis Pasteur. Lagos. Title of work: AS YOU THINK. Media: mixed media.

Description of work: many look down on women but vital things women do come out successful due to the THINKING level in us (women).

Art teacher's name: EMORDI ROSEMARY Name of school: SHOWERS INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL Title of work: WOODCUT (MOTHER AND CHILD) Media- PENCIL WORK, WOODCUT, PAINTING

Through this virtual exhibition, hopefully Art teachers from all over the world will be engaged, educated, and inspired to make a difference with the tool of Art education across the world. We challenge the Art teachers in our society to get their voices heard with their Art works and make positive contributions in the field of creative art. Hope to see you participating in 2016. Save this page http://teachingvisualart.blogspot.com

ART EDUCATION ADVOCACY ON TV On Tuesday 26th of May, the Art Director of TEACHING VISUAL ART, Prince Olusegun Adeniyi was invited on OGTV’s programme, NEW DAWN/OTUN OJO to provide the Nigerian populace with rich arts education content during the celebration. Also on the programme was an art teacher, Mr. Sunday Olusoji. There is a need for Art teachers to come together to champion the course of reviving the dwindling condition of Art education in our schools and to consolidate the effort of the father of the modern Nigerian Art, Late Chief Aina Onabolu, who was credited for introduction of teaching art in Nigerian schools. We encourage the Art teachers to be great ambassador of Art education in their local communities. We invite the Art teachers to share their efforts in advancing the frontline of Visual art in Nigeria on www.teachingvisualart.blogspot.com

TEACHING VISUAL ART support Art Exhibition at BBHS Mission TEACHING VISUAL ART also supported an art engagement and exhibition at the BBHS Mission, Abeokuta during the celebration the 2015 UNESCO International Arts Education week, where the boys created Recycled Collage balls produced from the Nigeria’s last election political posters. These posters are now considered waste because the elections are gone, but at the BBHS’s Art studio, they have been turned into beautiful art works. There were paintings on display at the exhibition produced by the boys. There was also on showcase a 100 x 60 inches huge portraiture of President Buhari created by fifteen (15) JJS 3 boys. Each of the boys worked on 20 x 20 inches cardboards each, and the works were later arranged to form a single piece, indeed a masterpiece. This is part of our core work, we offer Artist-in-residence programme based on invitation with schools, orphanage homes, and vocational centres to plan an art projects tailored towards empowerment, therapy, and addressing a particular issue in the society. Invitation could be sent to [email protected]

Recycled Collage Ball of President Buhari of Nigeria

Recycled Collage Ball of Governor Amosun of Ogun State

The portraiture of President Buhari, Nigeria by group of 15 students

ART EDUCATION WEEK CELEBRATED WITH THE CHILDREN ART CLUB QUOTES “Creativity is a characteristic given to all human beings at birth.” Abraham Maslow "Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up", Pablo Picasso. “The creative process includes exploring, experimenting, messing around with materials, being playful, entering into the unknown.” Natalie Rogers "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." Albert Einstein The CHILDREN ART CLUB is a creative platform established to help every talented child harness, maximize and express unhindered their God's given potentials in a serene environment that inspire creativity. It is a platform where we can reach each child through art as a therapy, empowerment and personal talent development. It was established based on our commitment to create an outlet for self-expression, to unlock talents, and nurture creativity in all the interested kids irrespective of their status and social background. We have made the CHILDREN ART CLUB free to accommodate children from different backgrounds. Through this platform, CHILDREN ART CLUB, we shall continue to nurture talents, preserve generation of innovative thinkers and break the cycle of wasted talents. And we are making sure that the issue of finance will not deny a child of this great opportunity to put his/her talent to use. A creative platform like this should not be for only the kids whose parents can afford it but for all kids that have interest to be part of it. The CHILDREN ART CLUB is held every 3rd Saturdays of the month since January 2015 at the Cultural and Musical Heritage Centre, OLUMO ROCK, Ikija, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. TEACHING VISUAL ART will like to collaborate and partner with other organization to create more CHILDREN ART CLUB platforms as we are working tirelessly to extend it to more cities and towns in Nigeria and beyond. The May edition of the CHILDREN ART CLUB held on 16th of May was dedicated to commemorate the celebration of the Children’s Day (official date, May 27), Nigeria’s Democracy Day (official date, May 29), and the 2015 UNESCO International Arts Education week (official date, May 25 – 31). The kids were engaged in series of visual expressions and at closing they visited the Olumo Art gallery. They were so motivated and inspired to see the works of professional artists on displayed. One of the kids even waited behind to study some of the displayed works.

The CHILDREN ART CLUB has caught the attention of the Nigerian press and it has been published several times on different Nigerian dailies, but there was a special feature story published on the DAILY SUN Newspaper of Tuesday 5th May, 2015 on pages 25, 26 and 27. It is also available online at: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=117915

We’d love to partner with other organizations on this project, to sustain a FREE ART EDUCATION (with provisions of easels and free art supplies for our enthusiast talented children).You may contact us at +2348030874474, [email protected] Or send your donations to us: TEACHING VISUAL ART First Bank (Nigeria) 2026692139 Previous editions of Children Art Club at glance:

SEE more updates on: www.teachingvisualart.blogspot.com

INVITE US You can invite us to your school, orphanage home or art camp to engage the young ones in series of Artistic engagements that is geared towards skill acquisition, therapy or personal talent growth. Send us a mail to [email protected] We will like to be on jury team of any children’s art contest or any other art activities with the aims of helping the young ones to harness their God’s given talents.

SUPPORT US We wish to use this medium to ask for your involvement in the TEACHING VISUAL ART’s projects. Your involvement will contribute in a great measure to nurturing talents, preserving generation of innovative thinkers and break the cycle of wasted talents. TEACHING VISUAL ART will like to collaborate and partner with other organization to create a creative platform and engagement for African children that will offer the following:  Project that build art awareness, sharpen basic art skills, and ignite the creative energy.  Art project as a means to nourish within the hearts of children a love for their cultural heritage and for the country.  Open the youths mind to new possibilities and a means of empowerment.  Art project that will inspire self-discovery, hope and help the young ones to overcome the boundaries of race, gender and religion.  Art project that allow the children to express unhindered their God’s given talents.  Project that foster creativity through experimentation and imagination in a stimulating environment.  A platform for orientation and projecting accessibilities and acceptance of Art in our communities.  A project that encourages an awareness and appreciation of the arts by exposing the young ones to various cultural experiences. We invite you to reach out to connect and collaborate with us! Learn more on www.teachingvisualart.blogspot.com CONTACTS: [email protected], +2348030874474, +2348024069722 Banker: First Bank, Account Name: TEACHING VISUAL ART, Account Number: 2026692139

Please share this report with all who are working in your institution or organization creatively with children, especially art educators.

We will like to appreciate every Nigerian Art teachers doing extraordinary things to advance the frontline of Education against all odds, we will love to celebrate you and share your efforts on www.artteachersclub.blogspot.com. Please send us mail to [email protected] We want to provide Art Education that is accessible and engaging for as many kids as possible. You can play a part, collaborating with you will contribute immensely to our work to advance the learning field of Art in Nigeria. Thank you and God bless!

Project of:

2015

Our projects are endorsed by InSEA (www.insea.org)