The second edition of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Otumfuo Golden Jubilee Hall at the Manhyia Palace.

The prestigious event is expected to bring together more than 500 participants, including local and international dignitaries, university vice-chancellors, artists, curators, and representatives of international agencies.

The awards ceremony is being organised by the Manhyia Palace Museum in collaboration with UNESCO and Justice and Repairs to honour eight distinguished artists from Ghana, the United Kingdom, and Seychelles for their contributions to contemporary art and cultural heritage.

The initiative forms part of efforts to project African creativity onto the global stage while preserving indigenous artistic traditions.

The awardees include Ibrahim Mahama, founder of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art, Red Clay Studio, and Nkrumah Voli-ni in Tamale; installation artist and painter Yaw Owusu; painters Victor Butler and Larry Otoo; and portrait artist Afia Prempeh.

The other honourees are Seychelles’ first contemporary artist, Leon Raddegonde; African Curator at the British Museum, Julie Hudson; and curator Osei Bonsu.

The announcement was made by the Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, Ivor Agyeman-Duah, during a press conference held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

He said the awards programme will run for ten years and will focus on recognising both local and international artists whose works continue to shape contemporary African art.

“The selection of the artists followed an independent process involving both Ghanaian and international jury members to ensure credibility and global relevance,” Agyeman-Duah said.

“The awards recognise not only artistic production but also curatorial practice and museum development,” he explained.

Agyeman-Duah said the awards seek to celebrate excellence, innovation, and artistic achievement while promoting Ghana’s cultural heritage internationally.

“The awards are intended to honour dedication and commitment to the promotion of culture and contemporary art,” he said, adding that the initiative will also inspire young people to explore opportunities in the creative arts industry.

He noted that beyond recognition, the awards are designed to encourage investment in the arts sector by demonstrating its economic and cultural value.

According to him, the programme aligns with broader efforts by the Asante Kingdom to preserve African identity through visual arts, history, and cultural education.

The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards were launched in May 2025 by the Manhyia Palace Museum to celebrate both traditional and contemporary visual arts across Africa and beyond.

The inaugural King’s Art Prize honoured ten legendary African artists and was widely hailed as a major milestone in Pan-African cultural appreciation, reflecting the Asantehene’s commitment to revitalising African artistic heritage and promoting global recognition of African talent.