17th August, 2023
The Lagos State Government on Thursday launched the Art for Climate Project aimed at promoting climate change advocacy and action through artistic expression.
The project, which is in partnership with the Creative Youth Community Development Initiative – Solution17 for Climate Action, and New York University (NYU) Abu Dhabi, targets children between the ages of eight and 12 who will be co-creating local and global solutions using Canvas.
Speaking at a news Conference at Alausa, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Omobolaji Gaji, said the Art for Climate Change is a follow-up to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed between New York University (NYU) Abu Dhabi and COP28 UAE, which aims to enhance the role of higher education institutions in knowledge-sharing, climate action, and youth engagement, in the lead-up to the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
He said this is expected to increase the contribution of youths towards an inclusive and solutions-oriented climate conference.
“For the project, artists from Lagos will collaborate with Tech Innovators, Experts in relevant fields, students from NYU Abu Dhabi and the Universities Climate Network UAE, to co-create innovative solutions to problems around key thematic areas relevant to COP28, which will be depicted in ART.
“Today, Lagos State Government and Solution 17 are proud to launch the Art for Climate Change project and kickstart a series of events including a co-creation innovation hub, live marathon painting events, dialogue series, and exhibitions.
“The events will hold periodically till the commencement of the COP28 conference in November 2023. It is our collective hope that this initiative will foster conversations about the role of art, culture, and citizenship development in addressing global challenges and shaping policies,” he said.
According to Gaji, the Art for Climate Change project would be building on a previous partnership of the Lagos State Government with The Vision of the Child (VoTC), through which the renowned Noble Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, mentored thousands of young artists, and poets between the ages 8 and 12 from 2012 to 2019.
“Notably four (4) of the award-winning VoTC artists will depict the tech-driven climate action solutions on 17 canvases in Lagos and NYU Abu Dhabi to promote COP28.
“These canvases and the projects they depict will be communicated in powerful storytelling via documentary, film production, music, and exhibition to create awareness and contribute to policy shaping and decision-making during COP28 and beyond.
“COP28 UAE will be held at the Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023. The conference is expected to bring together a diverse range of participants, including government officials, industry leaders, academics, experts, and youth, to assess the world’s collective progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement,” he added.
Gaji said activities lined up included pre-Artnovation 1 & 2, Co-creation at the ArtNovation Hub Sept 3- 8 Lekki, Lagos, live painting marathon/Physical Spaces – Lekki Phase 1 and JJT Sept 6, 2023 JJT Park Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos; private Exhibition in Lagos – Special Viewing Sep 10, 2023 Lagos and dialogue Series NYU Abu Dhabi and live painting marathon Sept 25-28 Oct 3-5 Abu Dhabi.
Others are: dialogue Series in Nigeria in Partnership with United Nations /Lagos State University October 2023 Lagos, Climate Art Exhibition at the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Expo City – Physical and Virtual (Virtual Reality) Nov 30 – Dec 12, 2023 Abu Dhabi and Dubai and Post COP28 Exhibition Dec/Jan 2024 JK Randle, Onikan, Lagos.
The Chief Executive Officer of Solution17 for Climate Action, Mrs Foluke Michael, highlighted the project’s thematic areas to include Renewable energy, climate smart Agriculture, Circular and Blue economy, Hydrogen economy, Culture and Citizenship.
One of the Project beneficiaries, Miss AnjolaOluwa Olanrewaju, 20, who advocated the establishment of a Climate Change Academy, said the project has created some solutions to global climate change issues through artistic impressions.