Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards.
The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards was instituted in May 2025 by the Manhyia Palace Museum to promote visual art – traditional and modern in Ghana’s cultural development. It’s a ten-year project with UNESCO-Ghana and other supporting organizations and companies including the Universal Merchant Bank- Ghana and the Justice and Repair – Ghana and the USA. The idea followed the successful negotiation and return of some major royal regalia looted from the Palace in Kumasi during the 1874 and 1896 Anglo-Asante wars and the subsequent exhibition, Homecoming.
The awards thus seek to celebrate the ancient or traditional art of the past and contemporary or creative ethos of today as well as their preservation.
The annual awards are in the third Friday of May and could be to two to ten individuals in a particular year. They should be Ghanaians who live and work within or outside.
Media of Expressions
Its giving in the following areas:
- Painting
- Sculpture of all types
- Traditional art of goldsmithing
- Installation Art
- Art History
- Distinguished Curation
An independent and unnamed jury of three or five: including the Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, a professional artist, an academic historian, an international curator and art historian solicit nominations and also headhunt. Review works of artists for a long and final selection are then announced.
There could the occasional recognition of major deceased artists who illuminated visual art development of the country.
Criteria
- There are no specific age ranges of artists, no themes and categorization for reviews and selections aside the generic categorization as above.
- Reviews aside artistic evaluation will also look at the following:
- The background of the artist and evidence of Ghanaian nationality.
- Authentication of works under contention- should be solo creations and evidence of copyright.
- Value to Ghanaian creativity etc.
The Award scheme is given under the patronage of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and has Lady Julie Osei Tutu as its Chief Patron. All declared laureates are invited to Kumasi on the event of the ceremony for a major private dinner with Lady Julie before the event with an audience of 500 the following day.
Prizes
The laureates will each receive:
- troupe of pure brass manufactured by Touch of Bronze in Accra
- a major citation published in the official brochure.
- a working visit to The British Museum/Victoria &Albert in London for two weeks (depending on particular laureates)
- some cash prices depending on particular laureates.
The awards are also broadcast live through a collaboration with Multimedia- Joy News.
Inaugural Laureates
The inaugural in May 2024 had the theme, Our Old Masters which was also the title of a biographical television documentary of the distinguished laureates. They were the following:
- Prof Ablade Glove – Painting
- El Anatsui- Sculpture/ Installation Art
- Ato Delaquis- Painting
- Francis Kwatei Nee-Owoo- Sculpture- Bronze
- Peggy Appiah – Art Historian
- Nana Opoku Amponsah Dwumfuor- the Asantehene’s Gold Jeweller
- Anthony Kwame Akoto – Painting
- Frances Ademola- Curator/Gallerist
- Melanie Kasise – Sirigu Women’s Organization for Pottery and Art.
- Ghanatta College of Art and Design
For further inquiries call 0256071700/0256071701 or email: manhyiapalace_museum@gmail.co.uk