Institutional Activation and Interventions in Art Practice in Ghana: The Case of Nubuke Foundation

Artistic production is informed, shaped and negotiated within complex situations. In the case of Ghana, the political and economic instability and its resulting woes on society, education, aspirations, opportunities and creativity from the late 1990s onwards have resulted in artist-led initiatives and emboldened artistic practice experimenting with materials, site-specific work, installations, new media, performance and non-art public venues. The role of institutions, which provide a supporting environment for the artist, can be overlooked or seldom acknowledged. Whilst Ghanaian artists gain international reputation, I examine the work of Nubuke Foundation, a private nonprofit institution based in Ghana, which provides practice development opportunities including mentoring, talks and exhibitions for artists. Strategies adopted within a changing art scene, little state support, scant financial resources, and few trained and qualified personnel from 2006 to date are highlighted here -in addition to its future with a new purpose-built exhibition gallery.