After overcoming the hurdles that come with bringing the vision to life, or creating a masterpiece, several artists and creatives are faced with the challenge of funding their dreams and projects. To contribute to solving this problem, the British Council, in collaboration with the Creative Arts and Visual Imagery Centre (CAVIC) Abuja, is having a Creative Hustle event which is titled “Strategic Partnerships for Fundraising Success”, happening on the 10th of February at 30 Agadez Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja by 4 pm.
If you are a creator and are interested in turning your passion into profit, then come and listen to experts break down fundraising to its fundamentals. They will also be addressing how to navigate the tricky torrents of investors, sponsorships, and business deals. There will be a room full of creatives in attendance, thus presenting the opportunity to meet, mingle, and network. Attendance is free, but you still have to register to attend with this link.
At the event is going to be a lineup of professionals from different backgrounds ranging from art to marketing and sales. The panel includes: Susa Garrido, Lanre Philips, and Oluwabukunmi Olukitibi.
Susa is the founder of Agama Art Publishing & Agency, an art publishing agency designed to represent and promote African Artists. She is also an artist who has worked and collaborated closely with many art associations such as the Society of Nigerian Artists, the Female Artists Association of Nigeria, and many other cultural hubs and galleries. She is a seasoned organiser and panellist when it comes to talks, workshops, auctions and cultural events surrounding art. With her in-depth experience in the field of the arts, she has also participated in several fundraisers.
The second guest is Lanre Philps, a sales and marketing professional who has over two decades of experience in sectors spanning the FMCG, banking and Telco industries. His extensive experience as a marketer gives him a rather distinct angle when it comes to getting people to buy into a cause, a trait that comes in very useful in fundraising. He believes in helping small businesses grow and has a keen interest in developing human capacity while implementing effective business strategies. This led him to found his own company, Elpee Consults, a Human Development firm.
Oluwabukunmi, the final guest, is a performance artist and dancer who brings her knowledge and experience of interacting with different artists and artistic practices to the fore. She is the organiser of IMI, a yearly convergence of artists who come together to create and delve into artistic explorations, free from all the pressure they would normally face. When she is not coordinating IMI, she is directing Hearts Heartist — a body set up to train and produce professional dancers.
She is interested in developing the community using dance, yoga, and art as a tool to reach and interact with different sets of people. She is also a community manager and yoga instructor.
Whether you are just starting your creative journey, or have been on the path for years, this event is definitely set to offer valuable insights and practical advice to help you reach your goals. Make sure you register, as there are limited spaces available.
For those in Lagos, the British Council has events lined up for you as well. Saturday 11th February is packed with exciting art showcases. With animations from Jimi Ojikutu to 3D Afrofuturism displays by Kayode Aliu, it promises to be an unforgettable experience. Peace Olatunji is also set to take us on an immersive journey back in time to ancient crafts, and visualisations of famous cultural landmarks with AR.
If you’re a fan of motion pictures, there will also be film showcases from different scriptwriters and storytellers such as Avwokuruaye Efetebor, Wingonia Ikpi, Jennifer Okotie-Eboh, and Fiyin Gambo. Come and witness art in motion as they take us down the path of the visualisation of their works. Attendance is free but make sure you register here to reserve your space!
Finally, for the art lovers in Port Harcourt, there is going to be a double dose of fun as Artification brings with it two days of art, stage plays, comedy, music, and a whole lot more. Come and witness the beauty of different artists’ journeys, as well as the next generation of artists in the African space. It promises to be an exciting evening of discovery, laughter, and enjoyment. It’s happening on the 11th-12th of February at the British Council. Ensure you get your tickets here, as there are limited tickets available.
About British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.
