In furtherance of its support for the creative industry, Ecobank Nigeria has joined forces with Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, regarded as the continent’s leading instrumental infrastructure solutions provider, and Soto Gallery, to host the +234Art Fair, a 10-day international exhibition intended as a springboard to promote Africa’s art and artists.
The +234Art Fair opened on Thursday 21st March at the expansive EPAC – the Ecobank Pan-African Centre – in Victoria Island, Lagos to a fanfare of art display, with lovers of art representing various groups and interests, and Ecobank Nigeria CEO Bolaji Lawal playing host and showing guests around the stalls, filled with mostly Nigerian and African art, showcasing some element of Pan-Africanism. Immediate past Ecobank Nigeria CEO Patrick Akinwuntan was of course on hand, this time as a guest, but there was no doubt that he very much appreciates the continued support of art by his old ‘home’ – Ecobank, which has thrown its weight behind several other creative industry initiatives, including the Adire Festival and Photo exhibitions, that have become annual events. love of art
The exhibition is displaying more than a thousand works of art from emerging and “un-galleried” artists.
The +234Art fair is dedicated to nurturing and uplifting the burgeoning 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 its international recognition.
This maiden edition takes the thematic direction of ‘A New Heritage’ and is designed to serve as a melting pot of artistic creativity from different strata of the society. The free entry fair aims to be an immersive showcase of Painting, Photography and Sculpture, providing the general public with a closer look at what emerging artists, and photographers in Nigeria today are up to. The exhibition provides an avenue for cultural resonance, discovery of emerging art talent, wealth creation, learning experiences, networking opportunities and social Impact.
The fair is showcasing diverse art exhibits like paintings, sculptures, curated photography – a compelling art installations – each with price tags to spur an affordable local marketplace.
There is also an Art-centric bookstore featuring a curated selection of publications celebrating the richness of African arts and culture; while and immersive children’s area is aimed at nurturing young minds with a dedicated art tour and a delightful play area for young art enthusiasts.
There are also several masterclasses and workshops that are aimed to provide thought-provoking conversations and engaging sessions that offer a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and creative exploration.
Ecobank says it is involved in organising the fair because of its dedication to nurturing and uplifting the burgeoning 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 its international recognition.
It says its partnership is in line with its policy of promoting the creative industry in Nigeria and the African continent, so as to project creatives by highlighting their talents and providing a platform as well as opportunities for them to showcase their works locally and globally.
Ecobank Nigeria is behind the yearly Adire Lagos Experience and it also organized the Photography, Art, and Design Exhibition (PADE) to commemorate World Photography Day in 2022. The Bank also partnered “Songs & Stories” With Cobhams Asuquo; Redbull Dance Your Style; BellaNaija Style Summit and Loosing Daylight (An exhibition of the history of Nollywood organised by Nse Ipke-Etim).
The bank recently commissioned a studio known as Ecobank EPAC Studios, which is a carefully crafted space for telling authentic African stories in art, culture, lifestyle, and entertainment.
Commenting about the fair, Ecobank Nigeria CEO 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.”
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.
