Museums and Art Galleries in Nigeria – SS1 Visual Arts Lesson Note (Third Term)

A museum is a building or institution that collects, preserves and displays artefacts, relics and other cultural objects that represent the history of a people.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define a museum and an art gallery;
2. outline the history of museums in Nigeria;
3. name and describe the types of museum;
4. state the functions of a museum and of an art gallery;
5. list some museums and art galleries in Nigeria and where they are located.

What is a museum?

A museum is a building, place or institution used for the collection, preservation and display of artefacts, relics or other valuable cultural objects representing the history of the people, past or present.

• Cultural heritage: the customs, arts and objects a people inherit from earlier generations.
• Artefact: an object made by people in the past, such as a pot, mask or tool.
• Relic: an old object that survives from an earlier time and has historical value.
• Antiquity: a very old object or work of art from ancient times.

What kinds of objects does a Nigerian museum hold?

• Sculptures: Nok terracotta, Ife heads, Benin bronzes and the stone figurines at Esie.
• Masks and carvings: wooden objects used in festivals and traditional worship.
• Household and craft items: pottery, textiles, calabashes and local tools.

What is the history of museums in Nigeria?

Museums in Nigeria began in the 1940s, after attempts in the early 1930s failed.

What are the types of museum?

There are ten types of museum: natural history, historical, war, industrial art, folk, aeronautic, zoological, general, modern arts and marine.

• Natural History Museum: holds objects from nature and biological specimens, such as animal parts, skeletons, plants and rocks.
• Historical Museum: holds items of historical value and collects artefacts.
• War Museum: collects military hardware used in warfare at particular periods, for example the Umuahia War Museum in Abia State.
• Industrial Art Museum: preserves the technology and industrial development of a country for future generations to study.
• Folk Museum: centres on the local ways, customs and ethics of the people of a particular place, for example legal tenders and garments.
• Aeronautic Museum: collects and preserves aircraft and space equipment, such as aeroplanes, rockets and satellites.
• Zoological Museum: collects, cares for and studies different types and species of animals in specific geographical locations.
• General Museum: holds mixed items from all the other types of museum.
• Museum of Modern Arts: collects and preserves recent art, including its modern concepts, current motifs, forms and ideas.
• Marine Museum: contains sea creatures of different species, for example sea shells, crabs and fish.

What are the functions of a museum?

A museum collects and protects cultural objects and makes them available for learning, research and enjoyment.

1. Preservation: it keeps the cultural heritage of a people, that is, the country’s antiquities.
2. Research: it is a good place for study and publishes journals on cultural activities, artworks and artists.
3. Employment: it provides jobs for some people in the country.
4. Unity: it encourages ethnic, national and international unity.
5. Tourism: it serves as a tourist centre and earns foreign exchange for the nation.
6. Promotion of culture: it promotes our cultural heritage.
7. Education and pleasure: it spreads knowledge and enjoyment to individuals, communities and nations.
8. Cultural pride: it inspires pride in people’s culture and keeps it going from generation to generation.

Where are the museums in Nigeria located?

Museums are found in many states, and the picture below shows some of them with their locations.

What is an art gallery?

An art gallery is a building or place where artworks are displayed, either temporarily or permanently, for sale.

• Commercial centre: buyers and sellers meet there to trade artworks and cultural items.
• Display: works may be shown for a short time (an exhibition) or kept on show permanently.

What is the difference between a museum and an art gallery?

A museum keeps cultural objects for preservation and study, while an art gallery displays artworks mainly for sale.

What are the functions of an art gallery?

1. Showroom: it displays different artworks.
2. Commercial outlet: it sells artworks.
3. Reference point: young artists see standards of good work there.
4. Training ground: it helps upcoming artists to learn and grow.
5. Promotion: it promotes art and creativity.

Where are the art galleries in Nigeria located?

Art galleries are found mainly in Lagos, Abuja and other large towns.

Evaluation

1. Define a museum.
2. Name five types of museum and say what each one collects.
3. State four functions of a museum.
4. What is an art gallery, and how does it differ from a museum in the way it uses artworks?
5. Which was the first museum established in Nigeria, and who established it?

Assignment

State any four functions of an art gallery, then name five art galleries in Nigeria and the state in which each is located.