Creative arts inspire God-given talents – UEW Pro-VC

● Some dignitaries after the event

It is necessary for the country to give critical attention to the creative arts sector due to its important role in national transformation and development, Prof. Andy Ofori-Birikorang, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, (UEW), has said.

“If we want the country to grow, we must pay attention to the creative arts industry. It creates and reveals inner mind and joy,” he stressed.

He again said: “Creative arts inspire people to unearth their God-given talents and it is beneficial to the community.”

Prof Ofori-Birikorang said these at the opening of the Creative Arts Conference organised by the School of Creative Arts (SCA), in collaboration with the Centre for Research, Culture, and Creative Arts, University of Education, Winneba (UEW) last Friday.

The conference was on the theme: “Re-developing Creative Arts Education Policy and Research for Sustainable Industrial Development.”

It offered an opportunity for participants to deliberate on how to strengthen the promotion of arts education in Ghana.

Prof Ofori-Birikorang stated that the School of Creative Arts Education existed to train competent professional teachers for all levels of education as well as conduct research, disseminate knowledge and contribute to educational policy and development.

“If we want to brand this university, we must pay attention to the School of Creative Arts. The creative arts industry inspires us to do things, and it is only through this inspiration that we get the energy of creativity,” he said.

In an address, the Dean of the SCA, Prof. PatriquedeGraft-Yankson, stated that recognition was currently being given to arts in Ghana through different interventions and training for a number of individuals across the country.

He commended President Akufo-Addo led administration for its support for the creative arts sector since it took power in 2017.

The Dean again praised the university for its commitment towards making the conference an annual event and said the school would be orgainising series of formal, informal and academic discussions among staff, peers and students.

According to Prof deGraft-Yankson, the formal and informal training attitudes and proficiencies needed to make the arts an important tool for defining and planning result-oriented human activities for quality living, were lacking.

He, therefore, stressed the need for the country to adopt a thoughtful and conscious involvement in the creative arts educational policies and research for progress.

The Director of Creative Arts Council, Ms. GyankromaAkufo-Addo, underscored the important role of arts education towards the skills of individuals such as critical thinking, and called for support in that regard.

She called on all the sundry to support and encourage children who demonstrate interest in the arts to pursue their passion and unearth their talents.

From David O. Yarboi-Tetteh, Winneba