PUBLIC PROGRAMS
ART BASE AFRICA
Grant Coordinator / Managing Editor
Lagos, Nigeria
Art Base Africa is an online database and quarterly journal for contemporary African art, launched in 2013 by the African Artists' Foundation with major support from the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development. As Grant Coordinator and Managing Editor, I developed the project, successfully applied for grants, gathered content and contributions for issues, and wrote critical analysis of practicing African artists.
YECA (YOUTH EMPOWERMENT THROUGH CONTEMPORARY ART)
Grant Coordinator / Project Coordinator
Lagos, Nigeria
YECA is a mentorship program targeting the youth population in communities in Lagos through art courses, mentorship, and exhibition opportunities. The aim of YECA is to provide vocational training, the acquisition of livelihood skills, and a solid extracurricular outlet for youths in secondary schools and to position art as a viable career path. As Grant Coordinator, I worked with a team at the African Artists' Foundation to conceive the project and successfully obtain for funding through the Ford Foundation, as well as coordinate the project.
FOTOBOOK
Grant Coordinator
Amsterdam, The Netherlands / Lagos, Nigeria
FOTObook was a cultural exchange program between designers in the Netherlands and Nigerian artists and photographers, promoting aspects of art book design and publication. The two-part project included a Nigerian delegation to travel to Amsterdam to meet with designers and artists, as well as a Master Class of Dutch book designers, led by Teun van der Heijden, for Nigerian artists during LagosPhoto 2013. FOTObook was organized by LagosPhoto and supported by the Mondriaan Fund.
NATIONAL ART COMPETITION
Co-Coordinator
Lagos, Nigeria
The National Art Competition is an annual platform organized by the African Artists' Foundation to advance the next generation of contemporary artists in Nigeria, promoting the conceptual development of contemporary art and the processes of artistic creation across mediums. As Co-Coordinator, I conceptualized annual themes, coordinated the artist selection committee for submissions led by Professor El Anatsui, organized the week-long artist retreat, and curatorial and event management for the final exhibition and judging ceremony.
PANEL DISCUSSION: "NEW MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS"
Organizer / Moderator
Social Media Week, British Council, Lagos, Nigeria
February 2013
This panel discussion focused on the evolving status of arts journalism in the digital age, with particular attention to how embracing online platforms can benefit the arts community in Nigeria. Panelists included Oliver Enwonwu (Omenka Magazine), Kate Sutton (Artforum), Alexis Okeowo (The New Yorker), Cecelia Stucker (Curator), Chiagozie Nwonwu (British Council), and Joseph Gergel (Curator). This event also served as the launch of Art Base Africa, organized by the African Artists' Foundation.
PANEL DISCUSSION: "THE MEGACITY AND THE NON-CITY"
Organizer / Moderator
LagoPhoto Festival, Ocean View, Lagos, Nigeria
October 2013
This panel discussion explored the theme of LagosPhoto 2013, with artists including Jerome Delay, Uche Okpa-Iroha, Joe Penney, Hans Wilschut, Cristina de Middel, Ayana V. Jackson, Lindsay Sawyer, and THANKSTHANKSAFRICA.
PANEL DISCUSSION: "CONTEMPORARY ART SPACES IN LAGOS"
Organizer / Moderator
LagosPhoto 2013, Ocean View, Lagos, Nigeria
October 2013
This panel discuss brought together organizations in Lagos that are championing contemporary art and transforming the cultural landscape in Nigeria today. Panelists included Oliver Enwonwu (Omenka Gallery), Taiye Idaor (CCA Lagos), Papa Omotayo (A White Space), Oyinda Fakeye (VAN Lagos), Uche Okpa-Iroha (TNI.ACP), Adolphus Opara and Olusola Otori (Silent Majority Project), Kavita Chellaram (Arthouse), and Joseph Gergel (African Artists' Foundation).
PANEL DISCUSSION: "INTERACTIONS: THE CONVERGENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND CONTEMPORARY ART"
Organizer / Moderator
Social Media Week, African Artists' Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria
This panel discussion included a group of Nigerian artists and cultural producers whose work deals with the effects of technology, the internet, the digital revolution, and social media, and the ways that it creates new paradigms for individual and collective world view. Panelists included Nigerian artists Uche Uzorka, Ike Francis, Temitayo Ogunbiyi, THANKSTHANKSAFRICA, and cultural producers Etim Eyo, Tintin Omevbore, and Joseph Gergel.
PANEL DISCUSSION: "CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY IN NIGERIA"
Organizer / Moderator
LagosPhoto 2012, Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos, Nigeria
October 16, 2012
This panel discussion included partcipants in LagosPhoto 2012 who spoke about their experiencees exucuting photographic projects in Nigeria and how photography can benefit positive social change. Participants included Kelechi Amadi-Obi (Nigeria), Akintunde Akinleye (Nigeria), Stanley Greene (USA), and Joe Penney (USA).
WORKS IN PROGRESS: ARTISTS AND ART HISTORIANS PRESENT
Co-Organizer
Columbia University, Department of Art History and Archaeology
Fall 2011 - Spring 2012
Works in Progress: Artists and Art Historians Present (WiP) is a program that brings together graduate students and faculty from Columbia University’s Art History and Visual Arts Departments to discuss their work and related topics.
