Nigeria Needs Investments to Boost Local Arts Market

Keturah Ovio, a director of Patrons MCAA, an art advisory and dealership firm, has called for significant private and public investments to drive the local arts market in Nigeria.

Announcing the upcoming “Small & Iconic” miniature art exhibition, scheduled between March 24 and 26, Ovio said that while Nigeria is one of the biggest arts markets in Africa, several aspects of the industry require support to flourish.

“Nigeria’s art market is dynamic. We are already on the international scene. We are prominent in Art Dubai, Cape Town Art Fair, Loop in Barcelona, 1:54 in London, and even at the International Fair of Contemporary Art in France,” said Ovio.

She cited an African Market Today’s report, which indicates that Lagos has the highest density of galleries in Africa, noting that artists must receive sufficient attention in Nigeria.

Ovio added that more young artists require funding and policy support to unleash their potential and talents, saying that it does not have to be established persons or entities all the time.

The “Small & Iconic” exhibition, which takes place at The Art Hotel in Lagos, will be exciting and educational, enabling visitors to learn about the new trends in the local arts industry, Ovio said.

All four exhibitors are women, targeted at celebrating International Women’s Day, she added. The exhibiting artists include Nathaniel Djakou Kassi, Bola Obatuyi, Omoyeni Arogunmati, and Ejiro Fenegal.

“Small & Iconic” is a series of miniature art exhibitions intended to spark memorable and inspiring conversations in the arts industry through bite-sized artworks, Ovio explained.

She added that Nigeria has the potential to tap into the $65.1 billion global art market, but Africa lags in the global comity of arts countries due to low government support.

In conclusion, the art market in Nigeria is promising, but more investments and policy support are required to boost the industry. “Small & Iconic” is a great opportunity for Nigerians to learn about new trends and support local artists.

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