By Tobi Awodipe

Cementing their shared commitment to advancing African art and cultural preservation, the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) with the National Gallery of Art (NGA) and the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC).

The partnership aims to facilitate the preservation of Nigeria’s culturally and historically significant works, while also developing digitized archives to expand research, exhibition practice and public access.

Over a five-year period, it will also feature institutional exchanges and scholarships to reinvigorate research-based practices and bring homegrown perspectives on the significant cultural legacies of both known and under-celebrated Nigerian artists.

Bringing technical expertise to public collections, a key component is to strengthen conservation capacity through training and skills transfer, a core pillar of MOWAA’s mission to upskill practitioners in the arts and culture sector.

Speaking at the signing, Director, MOWAA Institute, Ore Disu, said, “This collaboration underscores the role of the MOWAA Institute as a pivotal regional resource, ensuring our new state-of-the-art facility supports other institutions across Nigeria. Ultimately, MOWAA is here to help preserve and showcase the country’s rich artistic traditions, from restoration and training interventions to publications and exhibitions. We are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with NGA and CBAAC, demonstrating what’s possible when Nigerians act collectively.”

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration across key areas including Archival Storage and Preventative Conservation; as MOWAA will provide access to its conservation facilities to support the preservation of selected works from NGA and CBAAC’s collections. Conservation teams will work together to assess, treat, and preserve artworks with significant cultural and historical value.

Furthermore, joint research initiatives will focus on developing archives and sustainable conservation methods tailored to the unique challenges of preserving African art, materials, and publications.

The partnership will also prioritise training programmes in restoration, conservation and digital archiving. MOWAA will provide access to professional training and skill-building resources to enhance expertise in these critical areas.

The partnering institutions will also collaborate on events, seminars and workshops aimed at fostering public engagement, celebrating Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage and promoting preservation efforts globally.

Finally, a commitment to sharing research findings, toolkits, databases, and other resources will ensure the dissemination of valuable knowledge within the sector.

The innovative partnership will spark new horizons, the revival of local archives, specialist care for timeless works and the expansion of spaces for curators, artists and thinkers to shape global conversations in powerful and unprecedented ways.

Remarking on the landmark moment, Director-General of NGA, Ahmed Sodangi, said. “This is one huge breakthrough we have been working on for a while. This noble initiative will not only open a new vista for our organisation but will further enhance the professionalism of our staff. This tripartite relationship promises to improve and positively impact stakeholders in the sector. More exciting is the shared commitment and opportunity it holds for the partnering institutions.”

Director-General, CBAAC, Aisha Augie, added, “CBAAC is honored to be part of this historic initiative, which reaffirms our dedication to the promotion of African identity and artistic excellence on a global stage. Through this collaboration, we will not only safeguard the legacies of our past but also inspire future generations through learnings, research and publications, creative innovation and cultural exchange.”

Activities are due to kick off in the coming months. MOWAA Head of Collections and Senior Conservator, Elizabeth Adeyemo, said, “Artworks from Nigeria are some of the most sought after in the world, but we are often left out of international exhibition opportunities due to limited capacity for art storage and management. We are excited to work more closely with national collections, linking our modern masterpieces to the global arts scene.”

Thanks to NGA’s leadership, we are geared to pilot this collaboration with the restoration of prestigious 20th century paintings, with support from Goethe-Institut Nigeria this summer. This builds on our experience with private collectors and global institutions such as, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; ensuring African creativity continues to inspire future generations, here and abroad.”

The signing of this MOU marks the beginning of an exciting collaboration that aligns with national and global efforts to promote African art and culture.