The Innovation Lab of the Catholic University College of Ghana has held a forum for the Brong Ahafo creative arts industry stakeholders at the Sunyani Center for National Culture.
The forum was aimed at bringing musicians, filmmakers, actors, designers, painters and other creative artists together to discuss the challenges facing the industry in the region.
In his welcome address, Mr. Prince Marfo Bona, a representative of the Brong Ahafo Center for National Culture, urged the participants to use the event to develop solutions to the challenges facing the industry. He also called for the speedy completion of the BrongAhafo regional theatre to enable the region to hold the much delayed national festival of arts and culture NAFAC.
In his opening remarks, Mr Edward Twum Anane, the coordinator of the Innovation Lab, asked the participants to use the forum not only to discuss challenges but also to develop solutions and build networks. He also added his voice to the call for government to release funds to complete the Brong Ahafo regional theatre.
The 30 participants identified disunity, lack of skills and lack of access to finance as the major challenges facing the industry in the region. Lack of skills and knowledge was singled out as the biggest challenge facing the industry.
The participants urged all artists in the region to join any of the creative arts associations to promote unity and cooperation. The participants appealed to the Catholic University to organize workshops to train the practitioners in creative arts business management, financial management and copyright issues.
Similar meetings are scheduled for Techiman and Atebubu.
