In addition to a rigorous program of exhibitions and workshops at its gallery in Lagos, African Artists’ Foundation organizes two flagship projects annually, the LagosPhoto Festival and the National Art Competition. Launched in 2010, LagosPhoto is the first and only international arts festival of photography in Nigeria. In a month long festival, events include exhibitions, workshops, artist presen
tations, discussions, screenings, and large scale outdoor prints displayed throughout the city with the aim of reclaiming public spaces and the general public with multifaceted stories of Africa. LagosPhoto presents a contemporary and historical visual essay of the continent to both a local and global audience. The National Art Competition is an annual arts competition organised by African Artists’ Foundation, with each edition driven by pertinent themes in line with current social issues. In its five year span, the National Art Competition has showcased emerging talent in such diverse mediums as painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, installation, and video art. With a focus on the processes of artistic creation rather than solely the end product, artists are asked to submit a proposal for an unrealized work. After hundreds of entries, twelve finalists are invited to take part in an artist retreat, where workshops by leading artists, professors, curators, and arts professionals allow finalists to flesh out the conceptual threads of their proposal and work together in a studio environment. Each year, the competition includes cash prizes totaling four and a half million naira and provides the artists national and international exposure and exhibition opportunities.
