EU Plans New Funding and Projects for Artists in Nigeria and Africa
By Aboki Forex —
The European Union is developing new projects and funding opportunities to support cultural events, artists and creative collaborations across Nigeria and Africa. EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS Gautier Mignot disclosed this on Saturday at the maiden Lagos Contemporary Circus Festival held at the National Theatre in Lagos.
Mignot said the EU wants to increase funding for culture, the arts and the creative economy despite challenging global conditions. He said the bloc had supported the recent Kano Creative Summit organised by the National Theatre and is partnering with film festivals across Nigeria. The EU will also support the Lagos Biennial of Contemporary Art scheduled for November.
EU expands creative sector backing
Mignot said the EU is developing projects aimed at empowering artists across Africa and creating more opportunities for collaboration between European and African creatives. “We hope to create a dynamic because beyond these shows, there are co-creations, trainings, workshops between all these artists,” he said.
“We need more cultural action, not less. We need more funding for culture, for the arts, for the creative economy,” he added.
The maiden Lagos Contemporary Circus Festival was organised by the National Theatre with EU sponsorship under the theme “Circus in Motion.” Mignot described the festival as an example of the value of cultural partnerships, noting that the event brought together artists from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire and Switzerland.
“It’s really very international, colourful, full of energy and very modern, very contemporary,” Mignot said. He expressed hope that the festival would continue in subsequent years, attract more sponsors and develop into a regular platform for international artists.
National Theatre sees opportunity for artists
The General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre, Tola Akerele, said contemporary circus combines dance, movement, acrobatics, sport and physical performance. Akerele said the art form could provide Nigerian artists with opportunities to develop their skills and tell their own stories.
“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.
She said the festival demonstrated Nigeria’s ability to develop its own contemporary circus stories through collaborations with international artists. Akerele also highlighted the role of sponsorship in making cultural experiences more accessible to the public, noting that admission to the festival was free.
“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.
Nigeria’s creative funding landscape
The EU’s latest plans build on previous efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s creative economy through funding, cultural partnerships and capacity development.
In July 2025, Nigeria and the EU agreed on a €20 million initiative to strengthen museum partnerships, support film festivals and advance digital creative industries. The initiative also included cooperation on capacity building, digital skills, infrastructure and youth employment.
In May 2025, the Federal Government launched the first phase of its Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF) to provide financing for businesses across film, music, fashion, art, publishing, gaming and cultural tourism.
In April 2026, the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub launched a Creative Fund targeting technical capacity gaps in Nigeria’s film, fashion and music industries, including access to digital tools and AI-driven production technologies.
The EU’s renewed push could open more financing and partnership routes for Nigerian creatives, though the impact on the wider creative economy will depend on how quickly the planned projects and funds reach artists and businesses.