Artists vow to resist evacuation from National Theatre

 

Protest

Lagos, May 3, 2013 The Lagos State Chapter of Society of Nigeria Artists (SNA) on Friday protested over the proposed evacuation of its members from National Theatre premises.

The protest was held in the Artists Village at the premises of the National theatre in Lagos.

Over 100 artists came out to protest the plans to evacuate them from the National Theatre building.

The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions like “Government should not deny us our right”, “Artists Village is an historic centre”.

Others are “We are going nowhere, “We will fight for our right to the last” and  “Even though the government provided alternative space, we are not moving”.

Mr Dotun Alabi, the Chairman, the Lagos State Chapter of SNA, said that Artists Village was the first community of artists in Nigeria and indeed in West Africa.

He said that the Artists Village had historical background of where the world famous artists of today were groomed.

``We are going to fight it with our last breath to ensure that they will not evacuate us from the premises of the National Theatre.

``The Artists village is the most exciting development in the culture sector in Nigeria in the last 50years.

“It is also the finest example anywhere in the world of the ``arms length`` principle that government applied to the Arts and Culture, `` Alabi said.

Mr Tope Babayemi, the Manager of Artists Village, urged the Minister of Tourism to upgrade facilities at the centre and also improve on the structures, rather than evacuate them from the area.

He described the Artists Village as the hub for all Nigeria Artists where producers, art writers, musical artists, dancers were being groomed.

``National Theatre is incomplete without the Artists Village because we add more value to the centre and also have the same aim at promoting Nigeria art and culture together.”

Mr Olaku Abiodun, a visual artist, advised government to involve experts in managing the Artists Village and improve it to international standard.

``The government has a verse land within the National Theatre premises to improve on facility, rather than to evacuate people from its environment, `` he said.

He urged the Federal Government to involve stakeholders in the industry in their policy making before taking any action and also carry artists along in their future development plans.