Access, ART X Announce Finalists For 2023 Access ART X Prize

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Access Holdings and ART X Collective have announced the ten finalists for the highly contested Access ART X Prize 2023. 

This prestigious prize, now in its seventh year, continues to empower emerging artists and provide them with a platform to be recognised.

Since its inception in 2016, ART X Lagos has been a pillar of support for early-career artists. This year, the Prize received over 3,000 applications from a diverse pool of talents, spanning Nigeria and the African diaspora. 

The selection process was overseen by a distinguished panel of renowned artists and cultural practitioners, ensuring that exceptional talents get the accolade.

In keeping with Access Holdings and ART X Collective’s commitment to bridge gaps as well as foster inclusivity within the African art world, the deserving finalists span a diverse range of nationalities, including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.  

The African/Diasporan finalists for the Access ART X Prize 2023 are Anne Mutema, Asmaa Jama, Dior Thiam, Edward Prah, and Lawrence Mwangi. 

Their Nigerian counterparts include Chidimma Nwafor, Chinwe Chigbu, Julius Agbaje, Roanna Tella, and Wale Matuluko.

Two creatives – one Nigerian and diasporan – will emerge winners of the Access Art X Prize. Each awardee will be awarded a $10,000 grant to support their exhibition at ART X Lagos 2024. 

Furthermore, the Nigerian winner will be sponsored to a 3-month residency at the famed Gasworks in London, while the Diasporan winner will participate in a 3-month residency at Yinka Shonibare’s GAS Foundation in Lagos. 

Both recipients will also receive personalised mentorship, further highlighting the Access Holdings’ and ART X Collective’s commitment to nurturing artistic growth and fostering cultural exchange.

The Access ART X Prize 2023 is being judged by an esteemed jury which includes Babajide Adeniyi-Jones (Photographer), Barthélémy Toguo (Artist), Daudi Karungi (Founder, Afriart Gallery), Emeka Ogboh (Artist), Gabi Ngcobo (Artist and Curatorial Director, University of Pretoria), and Yesomi Umolu (Director of Curatorial Affairs and Public Practice, Serpentine Galleries).

Previous winners of the prestigious Prize include Dafe Oboro (2022 Nigerian Winner), Belinda Kazeem-Kamiński (2022 African/Diasporan Winner), Chigozie Obi (2021), Etinosa Yvonne (2019), Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola (2018), Habeeb Andu (2017), and Patrick Akpojotor (2016).

Access Holdings Plc is a leading multinational financial services group that offers commercial banking, lending, payment, insurance, and asset management services.

Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, Access Holdings operates through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets, spanning three continents, 19 countries, and 60+ million customers.

Access transitioned into a holding company to drive rapid growth and become a full-scale ecosystem player offering interconnected services across customer needs.

Established in 2022, Access Holdings Plc consists of the Access Bank Group; Access Pensions; a Payment and Switching Services Company; a Digital Lending Company, and an Insurance Brokerage Company. 

The banking vertical serves its various markets through four business segments: Retail, Business, Commercial and Corporate, and has enjoyed what is arguably Africa’s most successful banking growth trajectory in the last eighteen years, becoming one of Africa’s largest retail banks by customer base and Sub-Saharan Africa's largest bank by total assets. Access Holdings strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible, and socially relevant, helping customers to access more and achieve their dreams.

On the other hand, ART X Collective creates platforms and experiences that celebrate, leverage and amplify Africa's culture. Working closely with exceptional creatives and cultural entrepreneurs, the company seeks to develop energised, empowered and evolving identities for Africa through culture, taking inspiration from its homes - Lagos, Nigeria and Africa. 

The company was created by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig and its flagship platforms include: ART X Lagos - the leading international art fair in West Africa; the ART X Prize - an annual award for emerging artists in Africa and its Diaspora; and ART X Live! - a dynamic launchpad and accelerator for Africa’s fastest-rising musicians and visual artists.