The Benue State Council for Arts and Culture (BSCAC), Makurdi, now department of Arts, Bereau for Arts, Culture and Tourism is a statutory cultural institution established to preserve, promote, and project the rich cultural heritage of Benue State. The Council was formally created on 1st April 1979 through an enabling Edict, marking the beginning of structured cultural administration in the state.
Operating as an autonomous parastatal under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the Council is vested with the responsibility of managing Benue State’s cultural assets, including traditional arts, theatre, music, dance, crafts, artefacts, and historical expressions. It also represents Benue State at national and international arts and cultural events.
Over the years, BSCAC has earned widespread recognition through outstanding performances and cultural representations at major festivals and exhibitions within Nigeria and across the globe, reinforcing Benue State’s identity as a centre of cultural excellence.
The core functions of the Benue State Council for Arts and Culture include:
Preservation and Promotion of Culture: Safeguarding Benue State’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage, including traditional dances, music, drama, crafts, artefacts, and indigenous knowledge.
Cultural Representation: Organizing and presenting Benue State at national and international arts and culture festivals, exhibitions, and cultural exchanges.
Performing Arts Development: Producing and showcasing high-quality traditional and contemporary performances in dance, drama, music, costumes, and songs.
Visual and Creative Arts Management: Developing industrial and visual arts such as textiles, ceramics, graphic design, exhibitions, and gallery services.
Research, Documentation, and Archiving: Conducting cultural research, managing museums and archives, documenting Benue cultural expressions, and maintaining an arts and culture library for scholars and researchers.
Revenue and Facility Management: Managing theatre bookings, cultural facilities, and revenue-generating activities in line with accountability standards.
Public Relations and Cultural Advocacy: Promoting the Council’s image, handling media relations, public communications, and protocol duties.
Human Resource and Administrative Management: Overseeing staff welfare, training, discipline, and coordination of departmental activities in line with civil service regulations.
Through these functions, the Benue State Council for Arts and Culture remains a vital institution for cultural sustainability, education, tourism development, and global cultural engagement.
