Access Bank sponsors 'Cultural Weekend' by Gallery 1957

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the creative industry, Access Bank Ghana was the major sponsor of Gallery 1957's Cultural Weekend, which ran from Friday, August 28 to Tuesday, August 31, 2021.

Launched on March 6 (Ghana's Independence Day) 2016, Gallery 1957, an affiliate of the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel, provides a platform for international exchanges between contemporary West African artists and the rest of the world.

Its Cultural Weekend was a week-long programme comprising a gallery visit, art fairs, a tour of historic monuments in Accra with exhibitions, presentations, and a trip to Palais de Lome in Togo.

A highlight of the event was the solo exhibition of artist/architect Timothy Arthur’s “Grandma’s Hand”, which was his debut in Ghana.

The artist's artworks depict close family members and his life events, specifically in Accra where he was born. His large-scale oil paintings were inspired by an archive of black and white photographs among his father’s papers which he brings to life with vibrant colours.

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Arthur’s artworks have been widely exhibited in London, and are part of international collections including ICA Miami.

An artwork that was exhibited at the 'Cultural Weekend'

Speaking about the event, the founder of Gallery 1957 Marwan Zakhem, was full of praise for Access Bank’s support which ensured its success.

“Having long championed the creative arts across Africa we are so grateful that Access Bank Ghana chose to support Gallery 1957’s recent Cultural Weekend, allowing us to invite local and international audiences to engage further with Accra’s rich arts scene," he said.

For his part, the Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Mr. Olumide Olatunji, expressed optimism in the creative industry's potential and pledged the bank's continuous support. “If talent and passion had a home, it would be in Ghana and Africa for that matter. Our bank is therefore poised to push creative talents in Ghana across Africa and beyond," he noted.

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Leveraging on the Cultural Weekend, the bank says it will revive its online art initiative dubbed “iLiveForArt”, which seeks to showcase and promote young Ghanaian artists in the fourth quarter of this year.

Over the years, Access Bank has shown its support for the creative industry in Ghana in various ways. Apart from sponsorship, the bank currently has an online series All Walks of Life, which airs on its YouTube channel every Friday.

The support for the creative industry is part of the bank's corporate social responsibility, with a focus to be the most sustainable and respected bank in Africa, financing and facilitating brighter futures for all stakeholders through innovative services and best in class operations.