The Development Alternatives and Resource Center (DARC)

Untapped Resourcess

The first of its kind in Nigeria. A national conference on Untapped Resources: Art. Culture. Heritage, was organized to provide an enabling environment for Nigerians to work towards creating a national identity in our arts and cultural heritage. The conference which brought to limelight, Nigeria's art and culture in all its magnificence was organized by Development Alternatives and Resource Center (DARC) with funding support from Ford Foundation.

This conference was held on November 13 - 16, 2007 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja and was declared open by the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Culture & National Orientation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode. The highlights of the conference were exhibitions and display of beautiful Nigerian art works. The event also showcased drama and traditional dances.

A series of workshops, cultural performances, lectures and participatory learning sessions brought together artists, scholars, policy makers, journalists, donors and cultural leaders for dialogue that will help set a stronger national cultural agenda for Nigeria.

The workshops on several themes also formed platforms for vigorous debates and suggestions from the participants on ways of moving issues on arts, culture and heritage to the front burner of national discourse and subsequently tapping from such untapped resources to improve our economy.

There were cultural performances and dance by National Troupe, Jos Repertory Theatre, Adele Drum Theatre and Calabar Cultural Troupe which portrayed the future of art, culture and heritage as a key for the promotion of tourism in Nigeria.