Kumasi, July 8, GNA - The Ashanti Regional annual arts and crafts exhibition has opened in Kumasi, with a call on artists to work hard to a dd value to their products to become more competitive on the international market. Mr Samuel Francis Adjei, Regional Director of the Centre for Nationa l Culture (CNC), said art works such as paintings, sculptures and drawings,

depicting the nation's tourists' attraction sites, rich cultural heritage , traditional beliefs and practices, which could help bring in substantial foreign exchange if well-packaged.

The month-long exhibition is being held under the auspices of the CN C to create marketing opportunity for local artists. A total of 55 exhibitors are participating in the event, which is un der the theme, "Our Cultural Heritage." Mr Adjei said the Centre would create the necessary awareness and "revive some of our unique traditional beliefs and practices, which are becoming extinct" through various programmes. He appealed to corporate bodies and organizations to take interest i n such programmes to boost the economy.