By Justina Okpanku
Shyllon Museum, Embassy of Spain in cooperation with Casa África, and the Museo del Prado, have organised a training workshop for journalists titled “New Narratives and Singular Communication in Arts Journalism” which was designed to strengthen arts journalism, cultural communication, and media engagement within Nigeria’s growing creative ecosystem.
Basically, the workshop was aimed was at improving upon storytelling around culture and arts.
The 2-day workshop held at Yemisi Shylon Museum of Art (YSMA), Pan-Atlantic University Lagos, recently involved
35 arts and culture journalists from across Nigeria.
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They were brought together for the intensive programme so that the journalists, editors, critics, museum professionals, cultural communicators, and academics could join
conversations on ethics, storytelling, audience engagement, media relations, digital communication, artificial intelligence, and the evolving role of journalism in shaping public understanding of arts and culture.
Obviously, the narrative is shifting.
Mr. Ozolua Uhakhem, Assistant Editor, Arts of The Nation Newspaper said the “workshop was not only insightful but also provided different practical approaches to Arts Journalism.”
Ozolua pointed out that from understanding the roles of different players in the ecosystem to telling unique stories that resonate with the audience, and the effective application of information technologies, “the two-day session was more than refreshing.”
Similarly, another participant, Yinka Freda Olatunbosun of THISDAY Newspapers, told this reporter
that it’s necessary and timely for journalists to learn new ways of telling stories.
She said:
“Our audiences are consuming news in new formats. We have to be adaptable just like The Prado Museum team showed us.
You can communicate consistently and timely with new technology and responsibly use AI.”
But people never thought about how culture is reported.
Through presentations and a panel conversation, participants engaged with leading voices from journalism, academia, and the arts, including Dr. Ike Obiaya, Dean of the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University; Director of Art Report Africa, Sunshine Alaibe; Wale Alimi, Artist; Dr. Nwachukwu Egbunike; and Director of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Dr. Jess Castellote.
Speaker after speaker, the panelists made their presentations in line with the topic titled “A critical conversation on ethnics, responsibility, and judgement in cultural journalism.”
Reacting, journalists questioned poor communication which has become a standard in the art constituency in Nigeria.
Journalists were telling them that they don’t like what artists are doing. Someone told a story on how the culture and arts people in Nigeria are not supporting media organisations via advertisment.
The organisers who were passionate about changing the narrative of singular communication in Arts journalism identified the missing link or broken bridge in the relationship between the artists and media.
“You have a responsibility despite the difficult environment,” says Joan Tusell, Coordinator of the #PeriodismoÁfrica programme at Casa África.
Commenting further, Tusell said: “The way culture is reported shapes how societies understand themselves and how the world understands Africa.
Cultural journalism is not simply about documenting events; it helps preserve memory, interpret change, and connect communities through shared stories.”
He added that “Through #PeriodismoÁfrica, we seek to support journalists who tell richer and more nuanced stories about African realities.”
Casa África, a public diplomacy institution linked to Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and dedicated to strengthening relations between Spain and Africa through culture, education, media, and knowledge exchange, supported the initiative through its #PeriodismoÁfrica programme, which focuses on strengthening journalism and media practice across the African continent.
It is against this backdrop that The Museo del Prado Experience was organised by the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art in partnership with the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria and Casa África through its #PeriodismoÁfrica programme, with the support of the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, and Art Report Africa as media partner.
Thankfully, the
Cultural Adviser at the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria, Eva Barta, threw the first salvo. She said one of the most effective ways to strengthen relations between nations is through culture.
Barta therefore urged journalists to pay attention saying that
“This workshop reflects our commitment to fostering meaningful exchanges between Spanish and Nigerian institutions and professionals.
“By bringing together expertise from the Museo del Prado and leading voices from Nigeria’s cultural sector, we are investing in relationships, knowledge, and dialogue that will continue to benefit both countries long after the programme has ended,” she said.
A major highlight of the workshop was the participation of Director of Communications at the Museo del Prado, Carlos Chaguaceda who delivered the keynote presentation titled The Prado and the Will to Communicate. Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading museums, the Museo del Prado welcomes more than 3.5 million visitors annually and reaches millions more through its digital platforms.
In recent years, the institution has emerged as a global reference point in cultural communication, earning international recognition for its innovative public engagement strategies, including multiple Webby Awards and recognition among the world’s leading social media initiatives. Drawing from the Prado’s experience, Chaguaceda shared insights into how museums and cultural institutions can build meaningful relationships with audiences, create compelling narratives, and generate public value through strategic communication.
Bringing the communication experience of the Museo del Prado to Lagos was an opportunity to facilitate a practical exchange of ideas and experiences that we hope will inspire journalists and cultural institutions alike to build stronger narratives and greater public engagement around arts and culture.”
For the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, the workshop reflects a longstanding commitment to strengthening the cultural ecosystem through education, dialogue, and professional development.
Dr. Jess Castellote, Director of YSMA, demystified the hidden mechanics of value, validation and storytelling in the art world in his workshop presentation titled the Art Ecosystem and the Journalist’s Mandate. He remarked: “A healthy cultural ecosystem requires informed and engaged journalism. Museums preserve and interpret culture, but journalists help amplify those conversations in the public sphere. At YSMA, we believe that the future of the art history of Nigeria depends partly on the stories journalists choose to tell today.”
Castellote also said the workshop created an opportunity for media professionals, academics, and cultural practitioners to reflect together on the opportunities and responsibilities of reporting on the arts, adding that
“We hope this experience refines the quality of cultural journalism which ultimately shapes the visibility, understanding, and value society places on culture itself.”
The successful workshop may have reinforced YSMA’s growing role as a convener of critical conversations within Nigeria’s cultural and creative sectors.
Over the years, the museum situated in Lekki, Lagos corridor
has consistently invested in workshops, professional exchanges, and training initiatives designed to strengthen cultural literacy, support creative practitioners, and build capacity among stakeholders across the arts ecosystem.
“Through strategic partnerships with institutions such as the Embassy of Spain, Casa África, and the Museo del Prado, the museum continues to expand opportunities for knowledge exchange while contributing to the future of cultural communication and arts journalism in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
