The British Council has unveiled its ambitious Festival Gathering 2024, set to transform the African festival landscape. This landmark event, part of the newly launched Festival Connect Fund, will be held in Lagos, Nigeria, from 19-24 November 2024.
The Festival Connect Fund aims to support and uplift creative and cultural festivals across Sub-Saharan Africa by offering essential resources, training, networking, and collaboration opportunities. By investing in the festival sector, the British Council envisions a thriving community of festival innovators who will drive sustainable growth, placing artists at the heart of an economy that works for all.
As part of this initiative, the British Council is introducing a hybrid programme combining virtual festival management residencies with the live Festival Gathering 2024, hosted during Lagos Fringe at Freedom Park. The event is designed to equip African festival organisers with the tools, resources, and global best practices needed to elevate their festivals to international standards.
The gathering will feature expert-led training, workshops, and networking sessions on festival models, management, sustainability, funding, and mobility. Participants will have the opportunity to gain invaluable insights, fostering artistic innovation and creating lasting impact in the African cultural sector.
Kenneth Uphopho, Director at Pawstudios Africa, the organisation delivering the event on behalf of the British Council, emphasised the importance of the Festival Gathering: “This gathering is about supporting Africa’s cultural leaders in creating lasting impact. We’re providing festival organisers with the resources to elevate their events and contribute to a sustainable festival ecosystem.”
The live convening will unite festival organisers from across Africa and beyond, providing a dynamic platform for cross-cultural dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration that transcends borders. Notable facilitators, including Dr. Ismail Mahomed and Ojoma Ochai, will lead workshops, offering strategies to elevate festivals and nurture innovation.
In addition to grant funding, the British Council’s commitment to Africa’s festival sector includes talent development programs, mobility support for artists and festival directors, and creative collaborations. One of the long-term goals is to establish a Sub-Saharan African Festivals Collective and Festival Directory, which will enable continuous knowledge exchange and collaboration long after the event concludes.
Farai Ncube, the British Council’s Regional Arts Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighted the organisation’s long-standing dedication to supporting festivals across the continent. “Festivals are essential spaces for artists to connect with audiences, build networks, and explore new creative possibilities,” he said.
The British Council has been a key player in nurturing the festival ecosystem in Sub-Saharan Africa for over a decade, strengthening cultural ties, promoting African artistry on the global stage, and empowering the next generation of creatives.
With its commitment to fostering international connections, artistic collaboration, and a sustainable festival ecosystem, Festival Gathering 2024 is set to redefine the future of African festivals.
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