The second edition of the +234 Art Fair will be held at Soto Gallery in collaboration with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), and Main Sponsor Craneburg Construction Company, following the great success of the first edition.
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Beginning at 10 a.m. daily, the much awaited event will be held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Victoria Island, Lagos, from March 27 to March 31, 2025. The 2025 edition’s topic, “Championing Patronage in Nigerian Art,” will examine how patronage may propel the development and longevity of Nigerian art.
The fair’s goal is to give new, under-represented Nigerian artists a big stage on which to display their work both domestically and abroad. We will meet a lot of fascinating and diverse art collectors and patrons this year who are subtly advancing the field. The founder of the +234 Art Fair and Soto Gallery Foundation, Mrs. Tola Akerele, said she was thrilled by the event’s ongoing success. She underlined that patronage in the art industry is about building connections that enable artists to continue and grow their creative endeavours, not only about providing financial support.
“Art flourishes in settings where the profession is supported by a community dedicated to its development, and the +234 Art Fair’s 2025 edition seeks to foster those vital relationships. The event will show how significant support can influence an artist’s path and improve the larger art ecosystem by offering a vibrant forum for artists, collectors, and art lovers to engage, she said.
“We are proud of the achievements of the inaugural fair and are committed to continuing to provide opportunities for ‘un-galleried’ Nigerian artists to showcase their incredible skills, elevating their work on both the local and global art stages,” Mrs. Akerele said in reference to the 2024 edition’s success. Ecobank Nigeria’s Managing Director/Regional Executive, Bolaji Lawal, reiterated the bank’s dedication to fostering the creative industry in Nigeria and Africa. “We are proud to invest in the next generation of African talent because the creative industry is a key driver of economic growth and global connectivity.”
We want to help Nigeria’s thriving creative community thrive and gain international recognition by giving up-and-coming artists a forum,” he said. A wide variety of paintings, photographs, and sculptures that reflect many facets of Nigerian society will be on display during the 2025 fair, which is expected to be a lively cultural event.
The fair, which offers free admission, seeks to promote social effect, learning, networking, and cultural resonance while also creating income. Along with the many art displays, the fair will have interactive workshops, a children’s section, a VIP lounge, a bookshop with an art focus, and food options. A diverse spectrum of people are anticipated to participate, including Nigerians, Africans, foreign nationals, government representatives, policymakers, diplomats, and international art fans.
A groundbreaking project like +234Art Fair is able to elevate the voices of up-and-coming artists in Nigeria because of its visionary patrons, which include institutional patrons like Ecobank, Craneburg, and AFC as well as others like TOOF. Event Milestones for 2024 More than 1,000 people responded to our open call.
throughout 10,000 people visited throughout the course of the ten days, with an average of 900 people every day. Top-trending subject on X (formerly Twitter) included 200 artists and more than 700 pieces of art, and hosted 12 Masterclasses and workshops with 31 facilitators.
