Things we do in SNA are mostly financed by the members -Dotun Alabi

Alabi

The current Chairman, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Lagos State Chapter and lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Akoka, Lagos, Mr. Dotun Alabi, has been at the forefront to promote art not only in Lagos but also in Nigeria. In this chat with ADA DIKE, he shares the SNA Lagos’ expectation from President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

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How is the SNA, Lagos faring?

Just like the nation is forging ahead under a new leadership of change, the society also is forging with an exhibition themed: “Open House”.  ‘Open House’ is the first celebration of the stratification of the SNA along the line of its membership. It begins from October 24, 2015.

 What has been the society’s challenges so far?

Most of the things we do are mostly financed by the members of the society so, we want both Lagos State and the federal government to support us by helping in sponsoring our programmes. And for those in the press, you would have observed that we have various challenges.  One of them was the challenge of the planned sale of the premises of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. It was a challenge and a struggle so, different committees were set up and we resisted the policy and when it seemed as if the mind of the then government was made up to carry out the act, people were being ejected from the premises while others were giving letters to relocate to other places, we gathered together and said that we would vote for change. Yes, it is not a secret thing.

Another reason was that some of the policies that came out then were not art friendly, for example, when they talked about the merging of the National Museum and the National Gallery of Arts. Of course, it’s going to put us in a second position. It‘s going to affect some of the things we have been enjoying over the years so, we spoke against it and at the end of the day, we were fortunate by the grace of God, that we did have a change in the parastatal. Presently, we have not seen any letter threatening to eject us out of the National Theatre premises.

As a society, what are your expectations from the new government in Nigeria?

In as much as we are also looking up to the present government to make the right decision, we have not heard that there is going to be mergers of ministries. Although, we are a bit quiet as well, observing the current government to see if they will come out with artists friendly policy. For example, our theme for this year ought to have been ‘The Embracing Change’. That will have been a fantastic theme for the year. But, before you embrace something, you have to have a good idea of what is on the ground. So, we said we are not going to rush to use the theme. We are going to sit and study the change to see how the change is moving. Then, we will fully embrace the change for the society. There is a need for us to embrace something good.

We are not against development, but we want development that will benefit us not the development that will sideline us. So we all looking forward to the ministers coming up especially, the Minister in the Culture and Tourism sector. We will like to interact with him and know his plans they have for us. And if their blueprint is perfect or lovely or encourages us, then we will embrace change, hold it to it and push it for a greater Nigeria.

Can you tell us more about the October Rain?

It is annual exhibition organised by SNA, Lagos. We have continued to upgrade it so, it has become an indication of the society’s desire to continuously upgrade and improve itself. October Rain has now become a metaphor for the end of the season and the beginning of another. October symbolises to the farmer the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the harmattan period. By this time, the rains would have thoroughly fertilised the soil and enriched it.

What categories of artists will exhibit their works at October Rain this year?

Although the October Rain exhibition is not open to students, it is open to students who have graduated from OND or NCE levels as Associate members.

“So, for the first time in the history of the society, we are going to be having an exhibition where all these cadres, except the students membership cadre, will be exhibited and will be captured according to their various cadre. That is why we have the open house exhibition this year to be able to register the structure of the Society of Nigerian Artists.

What cadres of membership do you have in Lagos Chapter of SNA?

Under the membership of the society, we have the most senior in hierarchy which is the Fellows of the society. This group in the society are people who find themselves within the age of 45 and above and who have contributed immensely to the development of visual art, not only in Lagos but in Nigeria. The fellowship of the society is restricted to the approval of the national body of the society. So the national body are the primary people who approve those names that are forwarded to them for fellowship because they have to consider the input of the individuals that we send from the state chapter to them as Fellows.

Next to the Fellows are the Master membership, which has several criteria such as: 1. You must have been practising as a full time artist or lecturer for over 15 years. 2. You should have a couple of solo exhibitions to your credit, and also group and joint exhibitions. 3. Your name, by virtue, must be a common place in the art market. He shouldn’t be an artist that when call your name people will be wondering whether you just joined SNA. 4. He should have attained some degree of proficiency. 5. He should have public commission accrued to his name. 6. He should be a form of reference point that when people want to discuss you, they should be able to talk about where your works are and what you have achieved as an artist. 6. You should have a high degree of recognition.

Under Master membership, we also have a full membership of the society. Those who are full members are people who have joined the society and have also participated actively in the activities of the society. To be a full member of the society, you must have practised for minimum five years either in the lecturing capacity or as a studio artist. You should also have at least a solo exhibition to your credit and numerous group and joint exhibitions. As you can see, the more we go down, the lesser the criteria become.

We have the Graduate member. A Graduate member is somebody who has been certified by an institution to have graduated with a degree or a national diploma. The Graduate member has over a period of two years internship after graduation. He must also have a proof of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certification, under which we consider and later and adopt the member as a Full member of the society once he has been able to participate in numerous activities of the society.

Before the Graduate member cadre, we also have the Associate member, who by virtue of the gift of God, have been able to nurture their creative talents or they have gone as far as National Certificate of Education (NCE) level or Ordinary National Diploma (OND) level in an institution.

We have the Student membership cadre which is open to all students that have been given due accreditation by schools and who are also members of the Fine Arts department. It is also extended to the students in Architectural Department as well. We have over seven higher institutions in Lagos where artists practise and we have a wide pool to be able to absorb students.