Art Arising Festival ends today at National Museum Lagos

A UNIQUE festival of visual arts with a sprinkle of performance poetry is currently running at the National Museum, Onikan Lagos.

The 14 days festival, which opened formally on Saturday, August 19, featuring works of over 20 artists and a few poets, is organised by Art Alliance 51 – a collective artists, curators, art scholars, and art activists.

It is the third edition of the largely visual feasts, which unlike festivals of its kind, relies more on the contributions nd self-sourced resources of the participating members.

Declaring it open on Saturday, August 19, the first lady of Lagos, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu commended the organisers for seizing the initiative to celebrate creativity in such a modest but unique way that empowers young artists to seek ways to improve their visibility and gather some economic muscles, while also contributing to discourse about the welfare of the community, development of the society and goodness of humanity in general.

An obviously impressed Mrs. Sanwo-Olu, a medical doctor, who is however, also an art patron, stressing the importance of the creative economy at a time the nation’s economic fortunes are struggling, noted the leading role that women play in the organisation of the festival. She gave assurance that the government of Lagos State, being an art-friendly administration, will continue to offer support to the members of the creative industry so that they can attain their full potentials.

Founder of Art Alliance 51, who also doubles as director of the biennial Festival, the painter/sculptor, Juliet Maja-Pearce, said the festival was inspired by her conviction that creatives, especially visual artists, do not need to wait on the usually elusive government support and corporate sponsorship before they can showcase the works of their individual creative talent and skills. She said in her own practice, which, after she returned from study in the United Kingdom, started in Abuja, she noticed that neither the government nor corporate Nigeria is that deeply interested in the arts because “they do not place much value on it” as a contributor to national economy and development.

Mrs. Maja-Pearce, an astute art activist, reiterates the conviction that inspired the birth of the group, thus: “We, the members, are tired of waiting for the elusive ‘other’ people to help us develop our sector. We have erroneously looked to the govt and its organisations to rise up to their responsibility. With the arrival of this artist-run group, we are taking our sector into our own hands.”

About ART ALLIANCE 51

VISION

Art Alliance 51 Group comprises various art groups and individuals with a common driving passion to see rapid development of the visual arts sector.

• To establish a one-stop international standard event for engaging with the arts, the artists, art galleries and dealers, tourism practitioners, cultural promoters, academicians and researchers, art promoters, art lovers and collectors, students, and the general public.
• To creating and establish platforms for synergising the potentials of all members of the sector towards building a stronger industry.

AIM

• To create that one-umbrella platform for all stakeholders and participators of the visual arts sector to further synergise in order to grow this sector into an industry, thereby serving as a catalyst for growth and development of the local economy.
• To become the preferred platform for the visual arts community in Nigeria. We hope to become the preferred platform for independent artists, designers and consumers of visual arts products

GOALS

1. To push the frontiers of Nigerian artistic potential into global recognition.
2. To create an international standard event to boost Nigeria’s tourism potential.
3. To create a platform to showcase the aesthetic values and potentials of Nigerian arts and artists.
4. To encourage youths to take up careers in the creative arts by motivating them to see the arts as a serious profession and a profitable enterprise.
5. To draw attention to the arts as a veritable tool for sustainable development.
6. To create a platform that presents export opportunities for the creative industries.

All members since inception have been committing their time, as well as their financial, human and social network resources in order to be able to push this vision through. We are at the moment calling for more members, partners and supporters. We, the members, are tired of waiting for the elusive ‘other’ people to help us develop our sector. We have erroneously looked to the govt and its organisations to rise up to their responsibility. With the arrival of this artist-run group we are taking our sector into our own hands. All who have a passion for the growth of the visual arts’ sector are welcome to join us. This group is not restricted to artists alone. Registration is by sending an email to: [email protected]. Registration is free.

https://artalliance51.com.ng/?page_id=82