Ecobank Nigeria Limited in collaboration with the African Finance Corporation (AFC), and Soto Gallery has organized +234Arts Fair, a 10-day international exhibition intended as a springboard to promote Africa’s art and artists, which starts today.
Commenting on the Fair, Managing Director and Regional Executive, Ecobank Nigeria, Bolaji Lawal, said: “Our shared objective as the pan-African Bank is to project Africa’s creatives, including visual artists, by highlighting and developing talent, and providing a platform and opportunities for artists to showcase their works locally and globally.
“All arrangements are in place to make the fair exciting and fulfilling for both the ‘un-galleried’ artists and art enthusiasts across the world. We are so impressed with the interest and enthusiasm generated among young and emerging artists.”
Mr. Lawal also told journalists that: “The creative industry is an essential driver of economic growth, wellbeing, and global connectivity. We will continue to invest in the potential of our young people for a brighter future for Nigeria as a country.
“Specifically, we have invited emerging and ‘un-galleried’ Nigerian Artists to participate in this international art exhibition, as they stand to gain wide reaching exposure that would enhance their works.
“Un-galleried artists” typically refer to artists who don’t have representation or exhibition opportunities through traditional art galleries. These artists usually face challenges in gaining exposure and selling their creative work.
“For us and other sponsors, this fair is dedicated to nurturing and uplifting the growing art industry in Nigeria, by providing a platform to support emerging artists and encourage increased interest in art acquisition – thereby contributing to the growth and prosperity of the local art sector and giving it international recognition.
The creative industry is an essential driver of economic growth, wellbeing, and global connectivity. We will continue to invest in the potential of our young people for a brighter future for Nigeria as a country.
Empowering youths
Announcing the partnership in Lagos, recently, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, Samaila Zubairu, said: “The +234Art Fair aligns with AFC’s advocacy strategy of empowering and elevating Africa’s youthful population, thereby fostering job creation, skills development, value retention and rapid economic growth.
“We are proud to collaborate with Ecobank to help drive Africa’s creative industry forward by creating a catalyst for promoting African art and artists locally and on the global stage.”
Curated by Soto Gallery, one of Africa’s foremost art collections, the collaborative approach by Ecobank and AFC sets out to catalyze the creative sector by enabling emerging artists to achieve recognition and livelihoods, contributing to economic growth through art sales locally and internationally.
Alongside showcasing artwork, +234Art Fair will focus on enhancing the creative skills of participating artists through workshops with established local and international artists.
Also, a series of discussions between artists, collectors, gallerists, and exhibition visitors will impart critical knowledge of the global art world.
The exhibition’s title ‘+234Art’ combines Nigeria’s country dialing code with the concept of art to signpost a thorough exposition of what regional art looks like today, and how it interacts with the larger art community across the continent and beyond.
The thematic direction for the maiden exhibition – ‘A New Heritage’ – reflects the melting pot of artistic creativity from different strata and states, said Tola Akerele, Founder of the Soto Gallery.
“In presenting ‘A New Heritage,’ +234Art Fair seeks to connect Nigerian art from the past to the present, fostering a sense of pride and purpose among emerging artists.
“The event prompts essential questions: What does it mean to be a Nigerian artist? What heritage underlies our artistic practice? How can we celebrate emerging artists, knowing they will contribute to our artistic heritage and legacy in the future?”
