Artists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have lamented poor patronage of artworks, saying that Nigerians needed to patronise artworks to sustain the country’s cultural values.

Emmanuel James, a visual figurative artist, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, described the art business as not an easy starter, especially in a country like Nigeria where culture was gradually losing its value due to the modernity.

“It’s not easy because you won’t get enough support and encouragement from families and people around. “I thank God for social media, because someone can do well if he/she can sell online,” he said. James said another challenge of the art business was that customers were not always supportive. “They lower the price they give to artists knowing fully well how expensive art materials were. “It also depends, if you are an upcoming artist the only people that will patronise  you are your close associates. You will even find your self drawing for free just to get an audience. “Big artists do not struggle for clients because they are already popular”, he said.

He also said upcoming artists were forced to collect prices as low as N5,000 and N10,000 once in a while. “If you are a big artist that had gotten to a certain level of fame you get to make huge profits from it because art is very valuable and expensive, when dealing with the right people, You can make a fortune out of it. “There are a lot of challenges in the business, money challenges, money to buy materials, to get a good studio, to run advert, you have to be famous for more people to recognise and patronise you, he emphasised.

Miss Peace Coker, an artist, said If artists were in a good location where people appreciate art, there would definitely be good patronage. “It might not be a lot but a good level of patronage. If you do the kind of art people can easily relate to. “Artists don’t get enough patronage like other people get in doing other businesses, because Art is a very expensive form of business people don’t understand”, she said. “To be a painter is very expensive, that’s why you see a piece of art been sold for millions of naira, but because of the country that we are in, most artists try to work on a budget, we try to make it affordable enough for people to buy. “Art is different, everybody appreciates different things, you might not find people that would understand your kind of art, she said.

Another artist, Miracle James stated that a business like this all depended on perseverance. “This kind of work can be interesting if you have people who like and appreciate your passion, starting the business is not the problem, but getting a loyal client is the biggest deal. James said that challenges would come and those who cannot cope would easily give up.“It got to a point I almost gave up on the job, but I kept on pushing myself to appreciate the few customers I have, he said.

NAN correspondent who also spoke with some residents in the FCT, confirmed that artworks were very indeed expensive. Goodness Iwezua said she truly loved artworks such as paintings and drawings, but had never purchased any because of the costs. “I don’t have any money budgeted for artworks. I wish I had excess income, I cannot forgo any essential need and go for artwork, I can’t be hungry. “I don’t make enough to purchase an artwork, People who purchase these arts are wealthy people who have enough to splurge. I feel artworks are not for any average Nigerian, she said.

Samuel Henshaw, a student, who appreciated art and creative artists, said he patronised artworks based on his deeper level of understanding. “I don’t just buy artwork because I want to buy, I buy it because it speaks words beyond pictures, it has a lot of meaning; it speaks to me and motivates me. He also said that he usually buys the ones he could afford, stressing that “Art work are in different levels, if the less expensive ones are not available I don’t bother”. Prince Eze commended artists and their work as very beautiful pieces. “But, I cannot patronise any artists because artworks are usually expensive, I have not really had enough money to patronise one, he said. (NAN)