1 week Ago By Guardian Nigeria
The 7th Lagos Fringe 2024, a multidisciplinary arts festival showcasing creativity and innovation, is set to deepen creative innovation, cross-cultural collaboration. Curated by Pawstudios Africa, a creative hub advancing innovation and collaboration in African arts and culture, the festival is presented in partnership with Women in the Arts Festival, Freedom Park, British Council, PACE, Temple Productions, Abuja Fringe, Total Consult and TheatreNaija. Holding from November 19 to 24, 2024, this year’s festival will explore the dynamic intersection of technology and the arts, reinforcing its role as a leading incubator of artistic ingenuity in Nigeria and beyond.
With over 150 performances and exhibitions across 14 venues, Lagos Fringe 2024 promises an unforgettable lineup, featuring theatre, music, dance, visual arts, film screenings, and interactive workshops. Building on past collaborations with Soho Playhouse New York and Brighton Fringe UK, this year’s programme boasts international partnerships with creatives from Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the UK, further broadening its global impact. Festival Director, Kenneth Uphopho, said: “We are thrilled to see Lagos Fringe grow as a platform for creativity and innovation.
Our workshops, mentorships, and international collaborations foster long-term connections and amplify new voices within Africa’s creative ecosystem.” According to him, this year’s festival offers a range of special programmes that focus on professional growth, collaboration, and mentorship for creatives of all backgrounds. The programmes include, #GiveMeTha’MoneySeries — Workshops on monetising creative content, including grant writing, elevator pitching, and contract negotiation; Women in the Arts Initiative — Equipping female creatives through workshops and grant-funded productions, including the Equitable Gender Storytelling Workshop; Young Critics & Reviewers Programme — Cultivating new art critics through peer mentorship and strategies to monetize review content; AI Tools Workshop — An interactive exploration of how artificial intelligence is transforming creative workflows.
A highlight of Lagos Fringe 2024 is the Festival Gathering, a hybrid programme with the British Council, designed to equip African arts leaders with festival management skills focusing on sustainability, funding, and programming. Launched virtually in September 2024, this residency welcomed over 50 festival managers from Africa and Europe, including participants from Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, and the UK. Head of Operations at Pawstudios Africa, Tope Sanni, emphasises its significance: “The Festival Gathering is a groundbreaking initiative providing African festival managers with the tools to create impactful, sustainable events with global resonance.
” Lagos Fringe 2024 will also host a range of fun and engaging events: Y2K Party & Participants’ Party – A nostalgic throwback celebration with music, dance, and surprises; Rave/DJ Battle – A high-energy DJ showdown where the audience votes for their favourite DJ, with prizes up for grabs; Fringe After Dark – A late-night social gathering connecting performers and audiences in a lively setting; Creative Hustle: The Filmmaker’s Guide to Global Audiences – A session for filmmakers focused on strategies for international distribution and engagement. Festival-goers can look forward to cash prizes, festival awards, and exclusive mentorship opportunities..
