By Tamara Dichter  

A group of six Cuban artists led by Manuel Mendive Hoyo paid a courtesy call to the offices and resource center of the foundation for contemporary art in Accra.

The artists, who are on an official visit to Ghana also met the minister for chieftaincy and culture Hon. S.  K. Boafo for talks on fostering the culture relations existing between Ghana and Cuba.

Other members of the group are, Carlo Molina Josefe, Gilberto Gueppeno Torrez, Erich L. Canto O’fannill, Gercy Raciel Escobedo Chavez and Alexander Gonzalez Carbo.

A member of the FCA John Owoo, briefed the delegation on the activities of the foundation for contemporary art. He said that the FCA was set up to promote contemporary art in Ghana while enhancing collaborations with artists and art groups in the West African sub region and beyond.

He added that the FCA through the initiative of one of its founding directors Virginia Ryan introduced “Art in the Garden”, which involves the exhibition of art works in Gardens as a way of augmenting the limited space available for exhibitions.

“The FCA has also organised a number of workshops, seminars, and exhibitions for artists from Ghana and other countries. It has also set up a resource centre with dozens of books donated by various organisations and individuals while its website is available for the promotion of works by artists”, he said.

On his part, Manuel Mendive Hoyo, praised the FCA for its contribution to the development and promotion of contemporary art in Ghana and West Africa as a whole adding that he is highly impressed with the foundation’s work.

He revealed that he is greatly inspired by the concept of Art in the Garden, which he said will go a long way in offering artists the opportunity to display their works.

Hoyo said he was equally impressed with the way Ghanaian artists express the beautiful landscapes on canvas while insisting that artists must be allowed to portray the hidden ideas within them – even when they look absurd or weird.

Present at the meeting, was Dela Botri, a contemporary musician who was in Cuba during the resent international music festival, which was held in the Cuban capital Havana.