New contemporary art space for Accra

Accra multi-purpose art complex to open in March.

Accra is set to open a new permanent contemporary art space on 4 March, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Ghana’s independence from Britain in 1957.

The ANO Centre for Cultural Research, a multi-purpose space, is to be managed by local arts organisation ANO, which was founded in 2002 and whose headquarters will be housed in the new complex.

Situated in the Osu neighborhood of central Accra, the cultural venue will host performances, screenings and exhibitions.

To celebrate its inauguration, the work of numerous Accra artists will be showcased in a special exhibition as well as in opening events, including a performance by Serge Attukwei Clottey who explores Ghanaian philosophy and mythological traditions in a modern context.

The exhibition Accra: Portraits of a City will feature traditional decorated fantasy coffins by Paa Joe, while Accra architects Latifah Idriss and Mae Ling Lokko will assess the relationship between the Ghanaian capital and its architecture.

There will also be a section dedicated to the work of Felicia Abban, Ghana’s first professional female photographer, who has worked in Accra for the last 60 years, as well as images from Deo Gratias, the oldest photography studio in Accra, which has documented the city since the late 19th century.

For more information about ANO and the new centre see ANO website.