Cultural Administration and Arts Management in Nigeria: A Historical Insight

Abstract

There is a fine distinction between the two emphatic concepts – culture and the arts, though they are also related. Both the distinction and the seeming synonymity could be seen in their definitions. An American sculptor once said that art is something one does and culture is something that is done for one (as quoted by Hermann Glaser: 36). This close relationship between the arts and culture is analogous to that of a tree and its flowers. The arts are, therefore, a manifestation of culture. It follows that any art form is created and executed within a specific physical environment. It naturally interacts with the environment, is influenced by it, influences that environment in turn and acts together with the environment in the larger and far more complex history of society. Hence when art forms are considered from the point of view of survival strategies, the dynamics of cultural interaction with society become even more aesthetically challenging and fulfilling. This paper attempts to examine historical trends in the cultural administration and arts management in Nigeria.

Key words: Culture, Arts, History, Nigeria.