By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The forthcoming +234Art Fair designed to elevate African art and empower artists is already gaining traction, with the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) joining forces with Ecobank Nigeria and Solo Gallery to make it memorable.
The much-anticipated event, which is themed A New Heritage, is scheduled to commence on Friday, March 22, 2024, though hundreds of works of art have already arrived at the 2,000-square-meter venue in preparation for the exhibition.
For 10 days, exhibitors will showcase more than a thousand works of art at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) on 270 Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Curated by Soto Gallery, the programme is expected to catalyse 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.
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 dialling 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 +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,” the chief executive of AFC, Mr Samaila Zubairu, said while announcing the partnership in Lagos.
The Managing Director and Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr 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.”
“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?” the founder of Solo Gallery, Ms Tola Akerele, stated.
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