NCC to train 400 artists, creative professionals nationwide

The National Commission on Culture (NCC) has rolled out a comprehensive training programme for 400 emerging artists and creative professionals across the country.

Supported by the UNESCO-Aschberg programme, the initiative aims to empower artists through effective policy formulation and the establishment of a robust legal framework.

The capacity building programme themed, “Empowering Artists through Policy Formulation and Robust Legal Framework,” was unveiled during a stakeholder engagement session held on Monday, November 27, 2023.

Speaking at the meeting geared at soliciting inputs for a policy framework, the Executive Director of NCC, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong said the programme would be a collaborative and inclusive approach designed to enable creatives in the country to produce high-quality works that not only reflect their cultural heritage but also address contemporary social challenges.

Highlighting the significance of the forthcoming capacity-building project, scheduled to kick off in December, he stated, “The project has secured funding through the UNESCO-Aschberg programme for artists and cultural professionals, positioning us to empower artists through policy formulation and a robust legal framework.

“This initiative is not only aimed at fostering creativity but also a step towards creating an environment where artists can thrive, ensuring that their voices are heard and their contributions are valued on both national and global stages,” he said.

He called for support from relevant stakeholders to ensure the project’s success.

Founded in 1956, the UNESCO-Aschberg programme serves as an avenue that provides support for artistic creativity and diversity. Initially dedicated to promote the training of artists by awarding scholarships for the study of artists-in-residence, it was re-designed in 2017 to support the implementation of UNESCO’s two normative instruments addressing artistic creativity: the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist.

In 2021, the programme's redesign wass particularly timely, given the COVID-19 crisis leaving many artists and cultural professionals, particularly women, vulnerable in the face of economic crisis.