British Council Convenes Festival Gathering 2024 to Elevate African Festivals
Oluchi Chibuzor
The British Council, in partnership with Pawstudios, has inaugurated the Festival Management Residency Programme as part of the Lagos Fringe Festival 2024.
The festival is a key component of the British Council’s newly launched Festival Connect Fund, which aims to support creative and cultural festivals across Sub-Saharan Africa by providing resources, training, networks and collaboration opportunities.
By investing in the festival sector, the British Council seeks to cultivate a community of festival innovators through the exchange of ideas, insights, and best practices, leading to artists being at the centre of sustainable growth and shaping an economy that works for all.
In addition, to grant funding for festivals, the British Council is also supporting a hybrid programme comprising a virtual festival management residency as part of its Festival Connect Fund.
Through expert-led training, workshops, and networking opportunities, participants will gain invaluable insights into festival models, management, sustainability, funding, and mobility.
Kenneth Uphopho, Director at Pawstudios Africa, stated, “By implementing the British Council’s Festival Connect Fund vision, we’re providing festival organisers with the necessary resources to elevate their events to international standards.”
The live convening brought together festival organisers from Africa and around the world, creating a dynamic platform that enables cross-cultural dialogue, knowledge sharing and dynamic collaborations to enrich artistic communities across borders.
Renowned facilitators, including Dr. Ismail Mahomed, Brenda Fashugba, and Ojoma Ochai, will lead workshops on a range of topics, leading participants on how to elevate their events and foster artistic innovation.
Festival Director of the Scarborough Fair and Lagos Fringe advisory board member Jason Caddy noted that the festival is a platform for Nigerian talent.
