Published: March 26, 2026
MONROVIA – The Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO), in partnership with Hallie Art Gallery, has trained a cohort of visual artists on intellectual property (IP) rights and advanced artistic techniques, targeting a growing gap between creative output and legal protection across Liberia’s art sector.
The initiative, held under the theme “Your Art, Your Rights,” brought together both veteran and emerging visual artists for hands-on sessions covering IP rights acquisition, artistic techniques, and the legal frameworks governing creative work in Liberia.
Bridging the Protection Gap in a Growing Creative Sector
According to a LIPO press release, the training responds directly to the limited uptake of IP protections among visual artists, despite a noticeable increase in artistic production nationwide.
“Visual artists are producing remarkable work, but too many of them are doing so without the legal safeguards that protect their creations and their livelihoods,” said Hon. Garmai Koboi, Director General of LIPO. “This training is about ensuring that every visual artist in Liberia understands that their creativity is an asset, one that the law can and must protect. Knowing your rights is the first step toward benefiting from your talent.”
The March 20 training forms part of LIPO’s broader national capacity-building program aimed at strengthening stakeholders’ understanding of Liberia’s IP system. The program emphasizes legal protections, enforcement mechanisms, and pathways for commercializing creative works.
Policy Alignment and Economic Significance
Beyond technical training, the initiative carries wider policy relevance. It aligns with Pillar I, Intervention 7 of the ARREST Agenda, which prioritizes building a robust intellectual property ecosystem as a driver of sustainable economic growth.
By equipping artists with both creative and legal tools, the program seeks to position the arts sector as a viable contributor to Liberia’s economic transformation agenda.
Strengthening Skills While Safeguarding Creativity
Hallie Art Gallery founder Hallie Ndorley emphasized that the collaboration with LIPO reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Liberia’s visual arts industry.
He noted that while many Liberian artists are self-taught and highly talented, the absence of structured training in both technique and intellectual property leaves them exposed to exploitation.
“You cannot separate the craft from the rights,” Ndorley said. “When an artist learns a new technique, they must simultaneously learn how to own what they create. That is the full picture of artistic development.”
Expanding Access to Arts Education and Inclusion
The Hallie Art Gallery, co-organizer of the training, operates as a creative platform focused on arts education, skills development, and social inclusion in Liberia.
Ndorley, an award-winning Liberian-Canadian visual artist known for his signature “mystic flowing colors,” has gained international recognition as a pioneering figure in Ontario’s contemporary art scene. Among his works is the mural Curiosity, commissioned by the City of Pickering and its Cultural Advisory Committee as part of a program celebrating Black culture and artists.
In October 2023, he was honored by the Regional Municipality of Durham in southern Ontario for his outstanding contributions to arts and culture.
The training marks another step in efforts to formalize Liberia’s creative industry—ensuring that as artistic expression grows, so too does the protection and value attached to it.
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