On Friday, 13th February 2026, Tamale will witness a defining cultural moment as the Northern MMXXVI Collective of Artists (NOCA) opens its Group Exhibition at Nuku Studio. More than a showcase of artworks, this event marks the culmination of an intensive Artist Development Workshop and the formal emergence of a collective determined to shape the future of contemporary art in Northern Ghana.
NOCA represents a new energy — one rooted in collaboration, experimentation, and shared growth. For years, artists in Northern Ghana have worked with limited infrastructure and few structured platforms to refine their practice or reach wider audiences. Yet creativity in the region has never been scarce. What has often been missing is coordinated support, dialogue, and collective visibility. NOCA rises to bridge that gap, creating a space where artists grow not in isolation but in community.
This exhibition is not simply a gathering of individual pieces placed side by side. It is the outcome of weeks of reflection, critique, mentorship, and intentional development. The works presented at Nuku Studio carry the depth of process behind them, conversations about identity, culture, memory, urbanization, belonging, and transformation. They reflect both personal journeys and shared realities. Each piece is evidence of artistic courage and a willingness to push beyond comfort zones.
Tamale is steadily emerging as a cultural center in Ghana, and NOCA is playing a vital role in that transformation. As the city grows, so does its creative voice. NOCA contributes to strengthening this ecosystem by building networks among artists, encouraging brave and experimental practices, and positioning Northern Ghana within broader national and global contemporary art conversations. This collective signals that the North is not merely participating in Ghana’s creative industry - it is shaping it.
The exhibition’s open invitation and open admission reflect an important philosophy: art must remain accessible. Creativity should not be confined to exclusive circles. By opening its doors to students, collectors, families, policymakers, and the general public, NOCA reinforces the belief that contemporary art belongs to everyone. It becomes a meeting point — a shared experience that sparks dialogue across generations and disciplines.
It is a gathering ground where ideas are exchanged, perspectives are challenged, and new narratives are born. It honors tradition while embracing experimentation. It respects history while imagining the future.
The Group Exhibition Opening on 13th February 2026 at 3 PM is therefore not just a calendar event. It is a declaration — that Northern Ghana’s artists are organized, evolving, and ready to engage the world with clarity and confidence. It is a moment of visibility, but also a beginning.
As Tamale gathers at Nuku Studio, what unfolds will be more than an exhibition. It will be a collective affirmation that art in the North is alive, intentional, and forward-looking.
NOCA 2026 is not just happening, It is happening with purpose.
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