Leading African financial institution,
Guaranty Trust Bank plc, has announced the launch of ART635
(art635.gallery), a Virtual Arts Gallery created to reignite interest in
African art and drive the growth and development of the local art industry.
Art635 is a foremost online repository
of African artworks and is set to serve as a leading platform for the promotion
of indigenous artists across the continent. At the moment, most budding
indigenous artists in Nigeria and across Africa have little or nowhere to
showcase their works and make a substantial living from their works. The
Gallery will significantly expand the exposure of these artists, provide an
enabling platform for the marketing of their works and serve as a much needed
motivation for the further development of their artistic skills and talents.
The launch of ART635
is the latest of the Bank’s sustained efforts to promote African arts locally
and internationally. Arts is one of the four pillars of GTBank’s Corporate
Social Responsibility policy and the Bank’s support for Arts over the years ranges
from collecting art work from Nigerian artists, to partner with Tate and other Art
institutions to promote the value of African Art in Africa and the
international markets through project-lead initiatives.
With ART635,
the bank aims to further its support for African arts by helping African
artworks become not just more seen and appreciated, but also to turn them into
a much more profitable and commercially viable venture for indigenous artists
who currently earn very little from their works. This is in line with the
Bank’s initiative to go beyond the traditional understanding of Corporate
Social Responsibility as corporate philanthropy by intervening in economic
sectors to strengthen small businesses through capacity building initiatives
that serve to boost their expertise, exposure and business growth.
Commenting on the launch of ART635,
Mr Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, said; “At
GTBank we see art as an avenue for unlocking people’s creative potential and by
creating ART635
we aim to expand the opportunities for art education as well as broaden the
reach and viewership of the works of indigenous artists.”
He further added that “Although African
art goes back several centuries, the art industry in the continent is still
young and largely untapped and we hope that with ART635
we can drive its evolution into a lucrative and vibrant economic sector.”
GTBank has consistently played a leading
role in Africa’s banking industry. The Bank is regarded by industry watchers as
one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and
serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias
for world class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality and
innovation.
Please visit art635.gallery
to experience the beautiful works of African artists
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