The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) recently received a $3 million grant from The Mellon Foundation. This marks a significant step forward in its mission to preserve and promote West Africa’s cultural legacy. This substantial funding will support MOWAA’s efforts to develop world-class arts institutions and foster sustainable arts programs. Focusing on management, conservation, and education, the grant will enhance access to cultural activities and further the preservation of Global West African Art.
MOWAA has had an extraordinary year, collaborating with Oxford University and now securing funding from the Mellon Foundation. This grant will help the museum deepen connections between contemporary arts and West African cultural heritage. This ensures Benin’s longevity as a key player in the African art market.
Philip Ihenacho, Executive Director of MOWAA, expressed his gratitude:
“We are deeply grateful to the Mellon Foundation for their generous support. This grant will help us establish world-class facilities and programs that will elevate arts management, conservation, and archaeological research in West Africa.”
The grant will primarily focus on preserving Benin’s ancient archives and developing sustainable structures for West African art over the next three years. Key areas of development include:
- Arts Management & Conservation: Enhancing collections management at the MOWAA Institute and providing skills training in preventative care and object treatment.
- Residencies & Commissions: Offering career-building opportunities for emerging and underrepresented talents in interdisciplinary practices.
- Archaeology & Heritage Management: Documenting and creating participatory approaches to preserve Nigeria’s earthen architecture, particularly Benin’s ancient moats.
- Skills Development, Learning & Outreach: Supporting traditional craft-making guilds and integrating their craftsmanship into contemporary art.
Ore Disu, another director at the museum, highlighted the importance of Mellon’s support:
“The Mellon Foundation’s support will be instrumental in establishing MOWAA as a regional center of cultural excellence. Our goal is to reposition the cultural sector as a viable space for practitioners across borders. We aim to reignite a thriving cultural scene by positioning Benin City as a hub of cultural innovation. One way we plan to achieve this is by launching a residency program for artists and artisans from across West Africa and the Diaspora.”
Since its founding in 1969, the Mellon Foundation has championed the arts and humanities, believing in their power to express humanity’s complexities. Through its grants, the foundation enriches communities by fostering critical thinking. As MOWAA embarks on this new chapter, the museum reaffirms its mission to preserve West African art for future generations.
Click here to explore MOWAA’s recent developments.
