constructing cultural infrastructure throughout borders

Afreximbank and 1-54 Up to date African Artwork Truthful have launched their first partnership with 1-54 Presents x CANEX. For the primary time, 1-54 will curate an exhibition as a part of the Artistic Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme, hosted on the Intra-African Commerce Truthful (IATF). Made attainable by means of the Afreximbank Artwork Programme (AFAP), this landmark collaboration underscores the financial institution’s dedication to positioning tradition as a key pillar of financial growth.

Based in 2013, 1-54 has grow to be the main worldwide artwork truthful devoted to modern artwork from Africa and its diaspora. Named after the 54 international locations in Africa, the truthful is understood for its worldwide scope and dedication to championing various voices throughout the visible arts.

Every year 1-54 hosts three core editions in London,New York and Marrakech. The truthful extends its attain by means of its satellite tv for pc exhibition programme, 1-54 Presents, beforehand hosted in cities corresponding to Paris and Hong Kong. 1-54 Presents gives a devoted platform for daring tasks, increasing the truthful’s curatorial scope past conventional codecs.

Established in 2021, the Afreximbank Artwork Programme (AFAP) goals to assist the event of Africa’s visible arts ecosystem by means of partnerships and capability constructing. Central to the programme is its Acquisitions Committee, which guides the event of the Financial institution’s rising everlasting assortment of African and diasporic artwork.

Up to now, AFAP has performed a essential function in amplifying underrepresented voices throughout the continent. Its work has led to the combination of African artwork into worldwide areas, together with participation at occasions such because the Venice Biennale.

Afreximbank’s Artistic Africa Nexus (CANEX) initiative was launched in 2020 to assist the continent’s rising inventive and cultural industries by means of finance, market entry, infrastructure and advocacy. CANEX takes place as a part of the Intra-African Commerce Truthful (IATF), which was developed in collaboration with the African Union and the African Continental Free Commerce Space (AfCFTA). IATF stays the continent’s largest commerce and funding gathering, attracting greater than 35,000 members from over 55 international locations.

“By way of CANEX and the Afreximbank Artwork Programme, we intention to place the inventive and cultural industries not solely as automobiles for id and storytelling, however as engines of intra-African commerce and financial transformation,” mentioned a spokesperson from the Afreximbank Artwork Programme

1-54 Presents x CANEX

The inaugural version of 1-54 Presents at CANEX this yr will function a curated exhibition offered inside the Intra-African Commerce Truthful. The collaboration sends a powerful sign: inventive financial system is a central element of Africa’s growth technique.

“Curating a programme inside CANEX alerts a daring shift: artwork is not seen as a peripheral or area of interest sector, it’s central to financial growth and cultural diplomacy,” mentioned 1-54 founder Touria El Glaoui. “This partnership exhibits that once we break down silos, we create actual worth chains.”

Past the exhibition, the programme goals to create new networks throughout inventive disciplines, from visible artwork to style, music, design and structure. It represents a brand new method to cultural diplomacy, one by which creativity is woven straight into the language of commerce and technique. 

“Our collaboration with 1-54 represents a shared funding in narrative sovereignty. Collectively, we’re creating infrastructure that permits African creativity to flow into by itself phrases, and at its personal scale,” famous the Afreximbank Artwork Programme.

Afreximbank’s curated highlight at 1-54 London:

This October, 1-54 returns to London for its thirteenth version, as soon as once more held on the iconic Somerset Home, occupying its East, West and South Wing. Over 50 exhibitors will current the work of greater than 100 established and rising artists. Timed to coincide with Frieze London from 16–19 October, the truthful has grow to be a key second on the worldwide artwork calendar. 

As a part of this yr’s version, Afreximbank will current a Curated Highlight, a devoted part highlighting a brand new technology of artists from throughout the continent, with a deal with rising voices.

“This Curated Highlight at 1-54 London is the end result of months of dialogue, alignment and shared ambition,” mentioned El Glaoui. “It displays a brand new section the place African establishments are actively shaping the narrative, curating the content material.”

Afreximbank’s presence in London is an extension of its rising cultural attain by means of its Artwork Programme, which has supported visible arts, publishing and cultural programming throughout the continent. This marks an necessary shift amongst African establishments to guide, not simply fund, main cultural platforms.

“Highlighting rising creative voices is on the core of our mandate. Supporting underrepresented practices permits us to construct a extra inclusive cultural ecosystem, whereas deepening cross-regional dialogue,” added the Afreximbank Artwork Programme crew.

The Afreximbank Artwork Prize:

The partnership will even see the launch of the Afreximbank Artwork Prize, with the primary version to be awarded at 1-54 Marrakech in February 2026.

Created to assist rising expertise, the prize displays a long-term dedication to artists from Africa and its diaspora. Although additional particulars will comply with, the intention behind the prize is evident and impressive. It goals to supply artists with better visibility, mobility and sources, constructing extra sustainable profession pathways throughout areas.

“We wish this to be a catalyst,” mentioned Touria El Glaoui. “Not only a second of recognition, however a sustained step ahead in an artist’s profession, backed by a significant establishment.”

“The Artwork Prize is a long-term funding in creative excellence and visibility. It’s not only a second of recognition, however a sustained platform for rising expertise to interact with worldwide curators, collectors and networks,” confirmed the Afreximbank Artwork Programme.

Lengthy-term, institutional collaboration

The mixed launch of 1-54 Presents x CANEX, the Curated Highlight in London and the Afreximbank Artwork Prize alerts a shift in how artwork and tradition are supported throughout Africa, anchored not in one-off initiatives however in long-term, institutional collaboration. As El Glaoui notes, “The objective is to create infrastructure that outlives any single partnership.”

Trying forward, the Afreximbank Artwork Programmeenvisions a deeper institutional footprint, together with bodily infrastructure to deal with its rising assortment and expanded international partnerships that enhance entry to African artwork globally. “The imaginative and prescient is to rework AFAP right into a dynamic platform for cultural preservation, creative innovation and public engagement.”

By bringing collectively the artwork world’s main platform for African artwork and one of many continent’s most influential monetary establishments, 1-54 and Afreximbank are serving to outline what cultural management can seem like within the twenty first century.