British Council Pushes Creative Economy Through Talent, Cultural Exchange

British Council, in collaboration with Pawstudios, has launched the Festival Management Residency Programme to foster the growth of local festivals and empower Nigeria’s creative arts and culture sector.

As part of this initiative, the ongoing Lagos Fringe Festival is taking place at Freedom Park and features live performances, dance, theatre, film screening and visual art exhibition amongst others.

Speaking at the opening of the 5-day event in Lagos, the festival director for Lagos Fringe, Kenneth Uphopho, emphasised its significance in providing a platform for artists to showcase their talent and build commercially viable networks.

“If you believe in unity and a common goal, then our objectives should align. Festivals are more than community engagement – they encompass commerce, technology, and various facets of the creative economy, which are expanding rapidly. This gathering underscores why such initiatives matter,” he said.

He highlighted the longstanding partnership with the British Council as a source of empowerment saying “This collaboration not only benefits Lagos Fringe organizers but also enriches artists through resources provided by the British Council.”

Regional head of Cultural Engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa, Edemekong Uyoh, noted the importance of festivals for networking and opportunities.