By Elizabeth Osayande

The Sahara Centre and the Goethe-Institut Nigeria have announced the launch of The Lantern Art and Space Fellowship Programme, a collaborative initiative aimed at addressing the need for dedicated spaces for art, culture, and individual expression in Lagos.

“The Lantern Art and Space Fellowship Programme aims to delve into how the accessibility to existing spaces can be negotiated, repurposed, and harnessed by communities,” said the Executive Director of The Sahara Centre, Dr. Adun Okupe.
The fellowship programme has selected a total of 16 fellows for the year 2024 through a highly competitive screening process, comprising a diverse group of artists, art administrators, researchers, architects, project managers, cultural producers, and creative entrepreneurs.

The Director of Goethe-Institut Nigeria, Dr. Nadine Siegert, highlighted the significance of the programme, stating, “There exists an immediate necessity for artistic spaces that foster critical discourse in Lagos.”

Siegert further emphasised the impact of the Lantern Art Space Fellowship initiative in integrating spaces for art, culture, and freedom of expression into the dynamic growth of the Lagos art ecosystem, and collaboratively formulating sustainable strategies for art spaces and cultural support systems suitable for the unique environment of Lagos.

“The Lantern Laboratory by The Sahara Centre aligns with our mission to devise African solutions for African communities by fostering an environment that promotes idea generation, experimentation, and innovation,” Dr. Siegert concluded.

The collaboration between The Sahara Centre and the Goethe-Institut Nigeria is set to bring innovative methodologies for space access, negotiation, and programming with the Lantern Art/Space fellows, contributing to the advancement and transformation of Lagos.