Friday, March 22, 2024, was opening day for the much heralded Ecobank +234Art Fair, an international art exhibition Curated by Soto Gallery, in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria Limited and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for young ‘un-galleried’ emerging Nigerian Artists.
‘+234Art’ is an amalgam of Nigeria’s country calling code, and the all-encompassing word – ‘Art’.
The 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 +234Art Fair which runs through to the 31st of March, 2024, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), a 2,000 square meter exhibition centre, is expected to attract Nigerians from all walks of life, Africans and non-Africans resident in Nigeria, top government officials, policy makers, members of the diplomatic corps and art enthusiasts from across the globe.
Highlights of the +234Art Fair include:
Diverse Art Exhibits: Paintings, sculptures, curated photography – compelling art installations – each with price tags to spur an affordable local marketplace.
Art-Centric Bookstore: A curated selection of publications celebrating the richness of African arts and culture.
Immersive Children’s Area: Nurturing young minds with a dedicated art tour and a delightful play area for baby art enthusiasts.
VIP Lounge: An exclusive space for connoisseurs to immerse themselves in the artistic ambiance.
Culinary Delights: A rich culinary experience awaits visitors at the in-house food court.
Engaging Masterclasses and Workshops: Thought-provoking conversations and engaging sessions that provide a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and creative exploration.
Ecobank, through its Managing Director/Regional Executive, Bolaji Lawal, said it was organizing the exhibition in view of its “dedication to nurturing and uplifting the burgeoning art industry in Nigeria by providing a platform to support emerging artists and encouraging increased interest in art acquisition, thereby contributing to the growth and prosperity of the local art sector and its international recognition”.
Mr. Lawal further elaborated that the partnership was in line with the Pan African Bank’s “policy of promoting the creative industry in the country and on the African continent. Our objective at Ecobank is to project Nigerian creatives by highlighting their talents and providing a platform as well as opportunities for them to showcase their works locally and globally”.
Identifying the creative industry is “an essential driver of economic growth, well-being, and global connectivity”, he said Ecobank “would continue to invest in the potentials of our young people for a brighter future for Nigeria as a country”.
Specifically, Ecobank has 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.
It can be seen therefore that the 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.
It provides an avenue for cultural resonance, discovery of emerging art talent, wealth creation, learning experiences, networking opportunities and social Impact.
Ecobank Nigeria is clearly a key driver of the creative industry in Nigeria. It is behind the yearly Adire Lagos Experience; it 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 Ikpe-Etim). Ecobank signposted its commitment to the art industry when it recently commissioned a studio known as Ecobank EPAC Studios, a carefully crafted space for telling authentic African stories in art, culture, lifestyle, and entertainment.
The Bank is a key driver of tourism, culture and the creative industries in Nigeria. This resonates with its policy of promoting art in Africa. The Bank recognizes the industry as an essential driver of economic growth, well-being, and global connectivity.
Ecobank Nigeria Limited
Ecobank Nigeria Ltd. is a subsidiary of the Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African banking group with operations in 33 African countries and an international presence in four locations (London, Paris, Beijing, and Dubai).
The bank’s unique pan-African platform is designed to help unlock the opportunities of the continent, for the continent, facilitating regional integration, trade, and investment across borders. In describing itself as the go-to bank for pan-African trade and payments, it has set for itself the medium-term objective of becoming the leading gateway for pan-African trade facilitation in the emergent Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) era, leveraging its positioning as a major payment bank in Nigeria.
Driven by innovation, customer-centricity, excellence, sound risk management and corporate governance, the bank is intent on delivering sustainable value and playing a catalytic role in the transformation of Africa.
The Ecobank Group employs over 14,000 people and offers Consumer, Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking products, services and solutions across multiple channels, including digital, to over 32 million customers.
About Soto Gallery
SOTO Gallery is a contemporary art centre dedicated to sharing diverse African perspectives through art. With an aim to spotlight emerging talents while promoting established artists, the gallery seeks to be a holistic interface between the new and the known, across Africa’s evolving art industry.
The Gallery is an artist-oriented and community-centred space seeking to rediscover new ways of engaging artists in response to age-old questions. Through immersive exchanges and art education, SOTO reflects on ideas from a renewed standpoint, resulting in a transformative experience of African art in many varied forms.
