The European Union (EU) is developing new projects and funding opportunities to support cultural events and artists across Nigeria and Africa.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, disclosed this at the maiden Lagos Contemporary Circus Festival on Saturday in Lagos.

The festival, organised by the National Theatre with EU sponsorship, was held at the National Theatre with the theme, ‘Circus in Motion’.

Mr Mignot said the world was experiencing troubled times, making increased support for culture and artists necessary.

“We need more cultural action, not less. We need more funding for culture, for the arts, for the creative economy,” he said.

He said the festival demonstrated the value of cultural partnerships, describing performances by Nigerian, Ethiopian, Ivorian and Swiss artists as international, colourful and energetic.

“It’s really very international, colourful, full of energy and very modern, very contemporary,” Mr Mignot said.

The envoy said the EU had supported the recent Kano Creative Summit organised by the National Theatre.

He added that the EU was also partnering with film festivals across the country and would support the Lagos Biennial of Contemporary Art in November.

Mr Mignot said the EU was developing projects aimed at empowering artistes across Africa and promoting greater collaboration between European and African creatives.

He said the EU wanted to fund more co-creations through training, workshops and other forms of artistic exchange.

“What we hope is to create a dynamic because beyond these shows, there are co-creations, trainings, workshops between all these artists,” he said.

Mr Mignot expressed hope that the circus festival would continue in subsequent years, attract more sponsors and become a regular platform for international artists.

The general manager and chief executive officer of the National Theatre, Tola Akerele, said contemporary circus combined dance, movement, acrobatics, sport and physical performance.

Ms Akerele said the art form provided Nigerian artists with opportunities to develop and tell their own stories.

She said a successful outcome of the festival would be helping Nigerians understand contemporary circus and recognise its potential.

Ms Akerele said: “Nigeria is a young contemporary circus festival, but there’s so much potential. Contemporary circus is dance, it’s movement, it’s acrobatics, it’s sport.”

She said the festival demonstrated Nigeria’s capacity to develop its own contemporary circus stories through collaborations with international artists.

Ms Akerele also stressed the importance of sponsorship in making cultural experiences more accessible to the public.

“This is a free show. Everyone can come in. So we want more of this. The community is here. Everyone can have access,” she said.

She said the festival attracted people from different age groups, including families, children, young adults and older people.

Ms Akerele said contemporary circus also offered young Nigerians opportunities to develop skills that could take them to audiences beyond Nigeria.

Guests arrived hours before the performances at Lawn A of the venue, which quickly filled with spectators.

Some spectators stood as the crowd grew, while food, drinks, barbecue and popcorn vendors added to the festive atmosphere.

Lagos Blue Line trains also passed nearby at intervals, adding to the atmosphere around the venue.

The Ethiopia-Nigeria co-creation featured dancers, gymnasts, acrobats and a contortionist, whose performances drew screams of excitement from the audience.

Swiss performer and cyclist, Jessica Arpin, also engaged spectators during her performance at the festival.

Nigerian contortionist, Samuel Udoh, and Ivorian artists performed using African costumes, props and sounds.

The audience remained engaged late into the night, watching the performances at the debut Lagos Contemporary Circus Festival.

 (NAN)