Content of this Report
ARTWATCH Ghana has released it’s annual 2017 report on Creative Arts in Ghana.
It begins with general introduction that gives a brief account of the ordinances enacted and educational reforms implemented from colonial times to present in the attempt to better the educational system of Ghana. One of the aims of these ordinances and reforms was to vocationalise education to absorb learners into the world of work either to be employable or self-employed. This was because, colonial education presented white-collar jobs as superior to bluecollar jobs which imprinted on the minds of the youth and subsequently resulted in their distaste for vocational education including Creative Arts education and training even when it was featured in the school curriculum. The next heading takes a look at the constituents of Creative Arts, and lists some of the vocations entailed in the field. In this part of the world, Creative Arts is generally perceived as mere entertaining performance activity and or drawing or creating of images and for that matter one does not need formal school education in this field to be a good practitioner. In this regard, the next heading delves into the main perceptions, actions and inactions perpetuated by government agencies, policy makers and the general publics that do not encourage Creative Arts education and training in Ghana. Major setbacks of Creative Arts development in Ghana are prominently featured in this report.