Designing an Integrated Arts and Culture Policy Framework for a Nigerian State Government

State-level arts and culture policy in Nigeria is inconsistently developed and frequently inadequate to the complexity of contemporary creative industries, and the design of integrated policy frameworks that address visual arts, performing arts, music, film, digital arts, and craft industries within a coherent strategic framework is an urgent professional need. This study designed an integrated arts and culture policy framework for state government adoption, using Ogun State as the reference context. A policy design methodology drawing on comparative analysis of cultural policy frameworks from Lagos State, Osun State, England's Arts Council National Plan, and South Africa's Department of Arts and Culture strategic plan was employed, supplemented by structured consultations with 30 stakeholders from the Ogun State creative sector including artists, gallery operators, festival organisers, cultural heritage custodians, and creative entrepreneurs. Stakeholder consultations identified six critical policy gaps: absence of creative industries mapping data, inadequate arts education provision in state schools, absence of public art commissioning policy, minimal international artist exchange, underfunded arts council operations, and neglect of digital creative economy development. The framework developed encompasses eight policy domains with specific objectives, indicator frameworks, budget guidance, and implementation timelines. A state creative industries census mechanism is specified as an immediate implementation priority. Expert review by eight arts policy and public administration specialists confirmed the framework's coherence and political feasibility. The study recommends adoption as Ogun State's inaugural creative industries strategic plan.

Keywords: arts policy, state government, creative industries, Ogun State, cultural policy framework