By Prisca Sam-Duru

ART lovers, cultural practitioners, art collectors and connoisseurs as well as students are in for a treat as Art X Lagos sets out to position the West African region, and specifically Lagos, as an important destination on the global cultural calendar.

Art X Lagos, put together by TP-Collective is the maiden edition of the new art fair designed to widen Nigeria’s connection to the contemporary art scene across Africa and internationally.

ART X Lagos has been created to consolidate the role of the visual arts as an important component of the creative industry and contribute to the increased visibility of contemporary artists from Africa, creating a vibrant art market and positioning Lagos as an emergent cultural capital on the continent.

In so doing the aim is to  provide the best insight into what the  visual art  sector  in Africa  has to offer  to a wider local  and international audience, and encourage African and international  patrons  to  visit  Lagos.

The 3-day  art fair  will take place at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, from Friday 4th November to Sunday 6th November 2016.

Featuring a selected  group of invited art galleries  from Nigeria, across Africa and the Diaspora, the art show showcases the most innovative contemporary art  by  over 45 established and emerging artists.

Exhibitors at ART X Lagos will include galleries such as Art House – The Space (Nigeria),  Bloom Art (Nigeria),  SMO Contemporary (Nigeria),  Goodman Gallery (South Africa) and  Stevenson Gallery (South Africa),  amongst others.

The   Programme also features  interactive projects  and presentations  that entertain a broader audience, including live areas for performance artists, illustrators and graffiti artists.

Speaking on the Programme, ART X Lagos  Founder,  and  Director  of  TP-Collective, Tokini Peterside,  said:  “I am encouraged by the interest and support we have received so far  from all quarters.

This affirms our decision to go ahead with such an ambitious project.  As Nigeria and its neighbouring countries seek to diversify and expand their economies, our investment in the creative industry via  Art X  Lagos, offers a vital platform for growth and increased visibility, to artists and  galleries.”

Artistic Director of ART X Lagos, Bisi Silva said, “I am extremely excited to be part of this pioneering initiative. I believe  this art fair  can become  one of the key ways in which we begin to develop and internationalise the art sector  in Africa  as well as add value to the incredible work that is being created across the continent.”