Savelugu (N/R), -- The Centre for National Culture (CNC) has organised a one-day arts and crafts exhibition mounted by local artistes in the Savelugu-Nanton District as part of preparations by the Northern Region towards the forthcoming Pan African Historical and Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) '97'. The exhibition, on the theme: "Art, the gateway to beauty and sustainable development", attrracted various wood, leather and metal works as well as paintings and smocks. Alhaji Ibrahim Sherif, the District Chief Executive who opened the exhibition, said the days when people from the North despised their own culture were over. The high national patronage of smocks and other Northern handicraft, he said, ''demonstrates the rich heritage of Northern culture''. The introduction of cultural studies in schools and restructuring of the CNC, have greatly enhanced the cultural awareness of the people, especially the youth. Alhaji Sherif said PANAFEST has created a platform for people all over the world to exhibit their rich culture and appealed to them to participate fully in the festival.